LOWER THAMES CROSSING
NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER
NON-STATUTORY SUPPLEMENTARY CONSULTATION
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 a Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing (“the Project”).
Highways England carried out a statutory consultation in relation to its proposed Application from 10 October to 20 December 2018. Having had regard to responses received during statutory consultation, and after further investigations, Highways England is carrying out a supplementary consultation in relation to changes made to the Project. This supplementary consultation is taking place from 29 January to 25 March 2020.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames. It would provide much-needed new road capacity across the river east of London and deliver the other scheme objectives set out in the consultation materials.
On the south side of the River Thames, the new road would link to the A2 and M2 in Kent. On the north side, it would link to the A13 in Thurrock and the M25 in Havering.
The tunnel crossing is located to the east of Gravesend on the south of the River Thames and to the west of East Tilbury on the north side.
The Lower Thames Crossing proposals include:
- approximately 14.3 miles (23km) of new roads connecting the tunnel to the existing road network;
- three lanes in both directions, apart from the southbound connection between the M25 and A13, where it would be two lanes, and around junctions;
- technology providing lane control and variable speed limits up to 70mph;
- upgrades to the M25, A2 and A13 where it connects to those roads;
- new structures and changes to existing ones including bridges, viaducts and utilities such as electricity pylons;
- two 2.6-mile (4.3km) tunnels crossing beneath the river, one for southbound traffic, one for northbound traffic;
- a free-flow charging system, where drivers do not need to stop but pay remotely, similar to that at the Dartford Crossing;
- traffic regulation measures that include prohibiting use by pedestrians, low-powered motorcycles, cyclists, horse riders and agricultural vehicles;
- provision of environment mitigation and replacement of open space and common land.
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. During the 2018 statutory consultation, preliminary environmental information was included in a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), which is available online at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay, along with the rest of the statutory consultation materials. For supplementary consultation, we have published an Environmental Impacts Update based on the changes being consulted on.
From 29 January to 25 March 2020, we are carrying out a supplementary consultation on changes to the Project since statutory consultation. Supplementary consultation materials comprise:
- Guide to Supplementary Consultation
- Supplementary consultation leaflet
- Response Form and Freepost envelope
- Map Book 1: General Arrangements
- Map Book 2: Land Use Plans
- Map Book 3: Engineering Plans
- Traffic Modelling Update
- Environmental Impacts Update
- Utilities Update
- Easy Read version of the ‘Guide to Supplementary Consultation’
Copies of these documents, plans and maps are available to view online or to download at the consultation website at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/consultation-2020, with paper copies available for inspection free of charge from 29 January to 25 March 2020 at the deposit locations at the times listed in this notice.
A printed copy of all the supplementary consultation materials can be purchased on request from Highways England by emailing info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk, phoning 0300 123 5000, or writing to Lower Thames Crossing, Woodlands, Manton Industrial Estate, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW. A charge of £110 (including P&P and VAT) will be made for each set of documents. Consultation materials can also be supplied on a USB drive free of charge through the post on request (one per household) by contacting Highways England.
Paper copies of the supplementary consultation guide, leaflet, response form and Freepost envelope will be supplied free of charge on request by contacting Highways England (one per household). In addition, response forms can be printed out from www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/consultation-2020, and can also be obtained free of charge from public information events, the mobile information centre, deposit locations and information points.
Public information events, where you can view the consultation materials and talk to the Project team, are taking place at the locations, dates and times listed in this notice. In addition, a staffed mobile information centre (MIC) will visit locations near the scheme to supplement the public information events, and the MIC locations, dates and times are listed at www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/consultation-2020.
Any person may comment on the proposals or otherwise respond to this consultation publicity. Responses can be submitted by:
- Filling in the online survey at lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/consultation-2020
- Emailing comments or electronic copies of the response form to: CONSULTATION@TRAVERSE.LTD
- Posting comments or paper response forms to: FREEPOST LTC CONSULTATION (no stamp or additional address information
- is needed on the envelope)
- Filling in a paper response form at one of our public information events.
Responses must be received by 11.59pm on 25 March 2020.
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 Highways England by emailing info@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk, phoning 0300 123 5000, or 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/privacy
David Manning, Highways England
Public information events
Thurrock Civic Centre, Blackshots Lane, Grays, RM16 2JU
Friday 21 February 2020, 2pm-8pm
New Windmill Hall, St Mary’s Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH
Saturday 22 February 2020, midday-6pm
Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend, DA12 4LG
Thursday 27 February 2020, 2pm-8pm
East Tilbury Village Hall, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, RM18 8RB
Tuesday 3 March 2020, 2pm-8pm
Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Monday 9 March 2020, 2pm-8pm
Linford Methodist Church, East Tilbury Road, Linford, SS17 0QS
Wednesday 11 March 2020, 2pm-8pm
Gravesham Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1AU
Saturday 14 March 2020, midday-6pm
Brandon Groves Community Club, Brandon Groves Avenue, South Ockendon, RM15 6TD
Tuesday 17 March 2020, 2pm-8pm
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
Dartford Central Library, Central Park, Market Street, Dartford, DA1 1EU
Monday – Wednesday 10am-5pm
Thursday 10am-6pm
Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
Gravesend Library, Windmill Street, Gravesend, DA12 1BE
Monday – Saturday 10am-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
Maidstone Library, Kent History & Library Centre, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ
Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm
Rochester Library, Rochester Community Hub, Eastgate, Rochester, ME1 1EW
Monday – Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
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
