Thames 4 Crossing Infrastructure Thurrock Anusha Shah

Plans for the new Lower Thames Crossing are being resisted by the Essex authority where the tunnel will emerge, our event heard. The new crossing, which will carry 14.5 miles of dual to three lane expressway in the UK’s longest road tunnel, is due to emerge on the north bank of the Thames in the borough of Thurrock.

The project is designed to improve the links between Kent and Essex and relieve the Dartford crossing by connecting the M2, A13 and M25.

But Anna Eastgate, Assistant Director of Thurrock Council, warned that her authority is objecting in principle to the scheme: “It is difficult to see benefits for Thurrock. We need to deliver nationally significant infrastructure projects in a way that delivers local benefits. It offers great potential for south Essex. If done in the right way, it can provide a platform for growth.”
[emaillocker id=”71749″]
“We are keen to ensure that the infrastructure that will be in place for the next 100 years will be fit for purpose and not simply a short-term solution to the different problem of how to relieve congestions at the Dartford crossing. The design, height and scale of the scheme is obtrusive. We agree a new crossing is needed but not this crossing.”

Eastgate also said the crossing is a “missed opportunity” to unlock opportunities for growth in south Essex along the A127 corridor.

She also said the council has a “very, very real concern” about the “knock on impact” that the hiatus over the crossing is having on Thurrock’s ability to deliver its local plan, which contains allocations for 20,000 new homes and space for 24,500 new jobs.

The Thurrock Director pointed to question marks over the funding of the project following Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s announcement in last year’s Budget that the PF2 has been abolished. The PFI mark two was previously identified as the mechanism for financing the crossing, which could cost as much as £6.8bn to deliver. The council are continuing their discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the project.

James LeVesconte, Head of External Affairs at Highways England, expressed confidence that the crossing is backed by ministers, pointing to support for a body to lead on the project in the Government’s recently published response to the Thames Estuary Growth Commission.

“As far as finance is concerned, there is a commitment from the Government to still deliver on the Lower Thames Crossing and we are looking at how we fund and procure the scheme,” he said, adding that the outline business case for the crossing us due to be presented to the Government this year.

John Speakman, Estates and Property Manager at Port of Tilbury, said that the facility is expected to double in size to handle 16.5m tonnes of cargo per annum by 2030.

The first phase of the London Distribution Park, which is being built on the site of a former power station next to the port, will be open by next year, whilst the LDC’s port, which contains a ro-ro facility able to handle half a million sq m units per annum, will be operations within a year of receiving planning permission.

Nadine Collins-Smith, Head of the Thames Vision Delivery at the Port of London Authority, said using barges instead of heavy good vehicles to transport construction materials could slash emissions and relieve congestions, but there must be improved access to the river from the road and rail networks.

Collins-Smith also told delegates that the Greater London Authority’s review of safeguarded wharves is into its final stages. Having secured 50 wharves and supporting infrastructure, she said the port’s focus is now on reactivating these facilities while supporting development along the Thames.

As an example, Collin-Smith pointed to Peruvian Wharf in London’s Docklands, which the port has purchased for use as an aggregate’s facility.

Anusha Shah, Chair of the Thames Estuary Partnership, urged the adoption of higher sustainable building standards, including the incorporation of features like cross ventilation and shading.

Julian Ellerby, Director of Local London, said “real progress” could be achieved in the Thames Estuary by greater cross border work between its local authorities.
[/emaillocker]