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Responding to the Lower Thames Crossing getting planning consent, Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said:

“This is long overdue. The Lower Thames Crossing is urgently needed to relieve pressure on the Dartford Crossing and improve air quality by diverting 13m vehicles away from Dartford every year.

“But it should never have taken so long for such a vital project to be approved. First designated a top national priority in 2011, a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing was repeatedly delayed while costs ballooned to a staggering £9bn with its planning application alone costing £300m - more than it cost Norway to actually build the world’s longest tunnel. 

“But even this is not the end of the saga - NIMBYs and eco-zealots now have the chance to take the project to court to try to overturn the minister’s decision, further delaying the scheme and adding more costs. National Highways estimate that even failed legal challenges can add £120m to the cost of building a major road scheme. That’s why the proposed changes to reduce the number of opportunities to challenge infrastructure projects in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill are so important. 

“If we want our economy growing, we need to fix our dysfunctional planning system and speed up building in Britain.”