HIGHWAYS ENGLAND – SECTION 48 PLANNING ACT 2008
REGULATION 4 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009
LOWER THAMES CROSSING NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER
Notice is hereby given that HIGHWAYS ENGLAND COMPANY LIMITED of Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4LZ (“Highways England”) proposes to make an application (“the Application”) under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Development Consent Order. The Application is for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing (“the Project”), which is a proposed new motorway connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames. The Project’s main proposals include:
- Approximately 14.5 miles (23km) of new motorway, with a maximum speed limit of 70mph, connecting to the existing road network from the A2/M2 to the M25
- Two new tunnels, one southbound and one northbound
- Improvements to the M25, A2 and A13, where the Lower Thames Crossing connects to the road network
- New structures and changes to existing ones (including bridges, buildings, tunnel entrances, viaducts, and utilities such as electricity pylons) along the length of the new road
- A free-flow charging system, where drivers do not need to stop but pay remotely, similar to that at the Dartford Crossing
In addition, any necessary rights and powers will be sought to ensure delivery of the Project, including compulsory acquisition of land and interests / rights in land.
The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment development (“EIA development”), as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the proposed works constitute development for which an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required. An Environmental Statement containing information about the likely significant environmental effects of the Project will therefore be submitted as part of the Application. Separately, preliminary environmental information will be included in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) which forms part of the consultation materials.
Consultation on the Project proposals will take place from 10 October 2018 to 20 December 2018. Copies of the consultation materials (including documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development and the PEIR) will be available for inspection free of charge during the consultation period at the deposit locations and times listed in this notice.
Copies of the consultation materials also will be available online free of charge during consultation at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay . The documents that comprise the consultation materials are listed separately in this notice.
A printed copy of the consultation documents, including the PEIR, can be purchased on request by emailing Highways England at info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk phoning 0300 123 5000, or by writing to Lower Thames Crossing, Woodlands, Manton Industrial Estate, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW. Due to the size of the paper documents, a charge of £175 (plus VAT and P&P) will be made for each set of consultation documents.
Any person may comment on the proposals or otherwise respond to this publicity. Responses must be received between 10 October 2018 and 20 December 2018. Responses to the consultation can be made either electronically or by filling in a paper response form. Paper response forms can be printed out from www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay; picked up free of charge from public information events (see accompanying list), information points and deposit locations; or by phoning 0300 123 5000. Responses can be submitted by:
- Filling in the online response form at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay
- Emailing comments or electronic copies of the response form to: LTC.CONSULTATION@TRAVERSE.LTD
- Posting comments or paper response forms to: FREEPOST LTC CONSULTATION
- Filling in a paper response form at one of our public information events
Responses must be received no later than 11.59pm on 20 December 2018.
Highways England will consider and have regard to all responses when developing the Application for a Development Consent Order, once consultation has closed. Responses will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Secretary of State when deciding whether the Application can be accepted for examination. Therefore, in providing any comment, it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report.
If you would like further information about this notice, the consultation or the Project, please contact the project team by emailing Highways England at info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk, phoning 0300 123 5000, or by writing to Lower Thames Crossing, Woodlands, Manton Industrial Estate, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW.
Highways England’s policy on managing personal data can be found at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.
David Manning, Highways England, 4 October 2018
Public Information Events in Kent
Bluewater Shopping Centre, Bluewater Parkway, Greenhithe, DA9 9ST
Saturday 20 October, 9am – 9pm
Sunday 21 October, 11am – 5pm
Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 4LG
Thursday 1 November, 2pm – 9pm
Chalk Parish Hall, Pirrip Close, Gravesend, DA12 2ND
Monday 22 October, 2pm – 9pm
Dover Town Hall, Biggin Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL
Tuesday 4 December, 2pm – 9pm
Mick Jagger Centre, Shepherds Lane, Dartford, DA1 2JZ
Tuesday 23 October, 2pm – 9pm
Doubletree Dartford Bridge, Masthead Close, Crossways Business Park, Dartford, DA2 6QF
Monday 3 December, 2pm – 9pm
Gravesham Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1AU
Wednesday 21 November, 2pm – 9pm
Rochester Corn Exchange, Northgate, Rochester, ME1 1LS
Wednesday 5 December, 2pm – 9pm
Shorne Village Hall, 16 The Street, Shorne, DA12 3EA
Saturday 3 November, midday – 6pm
Public Information Events in Essex
Holiday Inn Basildon, Cranes Farm Road, Waterfront Walk, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, SS14 3DG
Monday 19 November, 2pm – 9pm
Brandon Groves Community Club, Brandon Groves Avenue, South Ockendon, RM15 6TD
Friday 16 November, 2pm – 9pm
Chadwell Village Hall, Waterson Road, Chadwell St Mary, RM16 4NX
Friday 7 December, 2pm – 9pm
Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, RM16 2JU
Tuesday 6 November 2pm – 9pm
Havering College of Further and Higher Education, 42 Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, RM11 2LL
Monday 26 November, 2pm – 9pm
Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BD
Friday 30 November, 2pm – 9pm
Holiday Inn Brentwood M25 J28, Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF
Wednesday 28 November, 2pm – 9pm
Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock Way, Grays, RM20 2ZP
Saturday 27 October, 9am – 9pm
Sunday 28 October, 11am – 5pm
Linford Methodist Church, East Tilbury Road, Linford, SS17 0QQ
Wednesday 14 November, 2pm – 9pm
Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Tuesday 16 October, 2pm – 9pm
St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Lane, North Ockendon, RM14 3QH
Thursday 22 November, 2pm – 9pm
The New Windmill Hotel, St Mary’s Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH
Saturday 17 November midday – 6pm
Tilbury Community Association, Civic Square, Tilbury, RM18 8AA
Tuesday 30 October, 2pm – 9pm
West Horndon Village Hall, Thorndon Avenue, West Horndon, CM13 3TP
Wednesday 24 October, 2pm – 9pm
Deposit locations
Brentwood Library, New Road, Brentwood, CM14 4BP
Monday 9am – 6pm
Tuesday 9am – 6pm
Wednesday 9am – 1pm
Thursday 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Grays Library, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX
Monday 9am – 7pm
Tuesday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 9am – 5pm
Thursday 9am – 7pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 9am – 1pm
Romford Central Library, St Edwards Way, Romford, RM1 3AR
Monday 10am – 8pm
Tuesday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 9am – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 4pm
Tilbury Hub, Civic Square, Tilbury, RM18 8AD
Monday 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 10am – 5pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
Dartford Library, Central Park, Market Street, Dartford, DA1 1EU
Monday – Wednesday 8.30am – 6pm
Thursday 8.30am – 8pm
Friday 8.30am – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Gravesend Library, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BE
Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Maidstone Library, Kent History and Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ
Monday – Wednesday 9am – 6pm
Thursday 9am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm
Rochester Library, Rochester Community Hub, Eastgate, Rochester, ME1 1EW
Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 4pm
