89-644: The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing that links the counties of Kent and Essex , and its proposed approaches. If built it would pass through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham , supplementing the Dartford route. The approximately 14.3-mile (23.0 km) route is being assessed by the Planning Inspectorate . First proposed in
178-530: A Development Consent Order (DCO) for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing. After submission, the Planning Inspectorate requested details missing from the application, as well as more information on construction plans and the environmental impact of the scheme from Highways England. In November 2020, Highways England were advised that the Planning Inspectorate would not accept the application. Following this feedback, Highways England instead chose to withdraw
267-588: A decision by Natural England to designate much of the development area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There have since been further delays and extensions, and in December 2021 the Examining Authority (at the Planning Inspectorate) launched a consultation (until 24 January 2022) with the applicant and interested parties (which includes objectors), asking whether an ongoing delay to
356-553: A decision, to 23 May 2025, was announced on 7 October 2024. Described as "a crucial part of the country’s strategic road network", the Dartford Crossing is the only fixed road crossing of the River Thames east of Greater London . Although officially designated as the A282 , the crossing is considered part of the M25 motorway orbital route around London. Last expanded in 1991 with the opening of
445-476: A direct replacement for lost or damaged trees or woodland". Essex Wildlife Trust is also opposed. The Trust acknowledges that a bored tunnel avoids direct impact on the wetlands and coastal habitats of the Thames estuary, but states that habitats will be destroyed at the site of the northern entrance to the tunnel. It states that the project will fragment habitats and the noise and light pollution it causes will reduce
534-609: A number of changes from that of the original public consultation: the route would now avoid a landfill site near Ockendon; the junction with the A13 would be redesigned and the junctions with the A128 and A226 would be removed. Furthermore, the A2 would be widened from its junction with the new crossing approach road to Junction 1 of the M2. In March 2018, Tim Jones in his position as LTC Project Director confirmed that
623-601: A study commissioned by Kent County Council proposed that the northern end of the crossing should bypass the M25 and continue on to connect to the M11 (and Stansted Airport) directly. This would presumably be an adaptation of Option C. In October 2012, plans were announced for the London Resort theme park near Swanscombe. Commenting on road and motorway access to the park, Kent County Council highways chief Councillor Brian Sweetland said that he
712-597: A success and subsequently further buoys and beacons were lit by Trinity House using the same system, in the Estuary and beyond. Today the Port of London Authority's Thames Navigation Service (established in 1959) is responsible for buoyage, beaconage and bridge lights on the Tideway. Trinity House remains responsible for aids to navigation in the wider estuary (and beyond). Download coordinates as: This table shows, from west to east,
801-461: A twice-weekly visit by a boatman for cleaning and maintenance). Broadness was lit by Pintsch gas , and Stoneness by a Lindberg light (which burned petroleum naphtha ). At the same time Trinity House began experimenting with the application of lamps to buoys, using Pintsch's oil-gas system, beginning with three in the Thames Estuary (East Oaze, Ovens and Sheerness Middle); the experiment was deemed
890-468: A twin-bore tunnel crossing under the River Thames east of Gravesend and Tilbury , linked north of the river by a new road to the M25 between junctions 29 and 30 while south of the river the new road will directly join the A2 at Thong east of Gravesend. It will run west of Shorne , not to the east, as a result of consultations. The tunnel itself would be 4 km long and 16m in diameter, which would make it
979-679: Is 30 wind turbines generating typically 82.4MW of electricity. The much larger 630 MW London Array was inaugurated in 2013. The term Greater Thames Estuary applies to the coast and the low-lying lands bordering the estuary. These are characterised by the presence of mudflats, low-lying open beaches, and salt marshes , namely the North Kent Marshes and the Essex Marshes. Human-made embankments are backed by reclaimed wetland grazing areas, but rising sea levels may make it necessary briefly to flood some of that land at spring tides , to take
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#17328523080221068-596: Is also likely to be necessary to deal with the predicted increases in traffic once the crossing opens. The cost of the proposed LTC is currently more expensive per mile than the HS2 project which is currently predicted to cost £307 million per mile of track, the LTC at current predicted costing would be nearly £573.5 million per mile. In November 2022, it was announced that the expected cost had risen to £9 billion. In October 2020, Highways England submitted their application for
1157-463: Is an archetypal, well-developed economy urban, upper river estuary with its sedimentary deposition restricted through manmade embankments and occasional dredging of parts. It is mainly a freshwater river about as far east as Battersea , insofar as the average salinity is very low and the fish fauna consists predominantly of freshwater species such as roach , dace , carp , perch , and pike . It becomes brackish between Battersea and Gravesend , and
1246-520: Is estimated to cost approximately £9 billion and would take about six years to build following the granting of planning permission. A planning application was submitted in 2020, and withdrawn. A new planning application was submitted in November 2022; the planning process was expected to take 18 months, but this was extended to 4 October 2024, due to the July 2024 general election . A decision to further postpone
1335-432: Is expected to take up to a year and a half. In the absence of any further delays, Sky News reported it would lead to the first gate opening in 2024. In March that year, Natural England listed much of the proposed site as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in view of its diverse insect life. This led to a significant delay to the progress of the application. On 29 March 2022, the plans were officially withdrawn, with
1424-522: Is the accessway for the Port of London (including London Gateway, associated Tilbury and Purfleet) and the Medway Ports of Sheerness , Chatham and Thamesport . The traditional Thames sailing barge worked in this area, designed to be suitable for the shallow waters in the smaller ports. A 2000s-decade-built wind farm is 8.5 km north of Herne Bay, Kent , on a shoal south-west of Kentish Knock . It
1513-572: The Department for Transport . Following delays in any proposal being put forward by central government, Essex and Kent County Councils intend to create a joint proposal for the construction of a crossing. In January 2009, the Department for Transport published a study regarding potential ways to address capacity issues crossing the Thames. This included short term measures to improve the existing Dartford Crossing, as well as evaluation of future crossings in
1602-588: The Maplin Sands (1841) and at Gunfleet (1856). Meanwhile, one of the outlying sandbanks of the Estuary was marked by a lightvessel at Kentish Knock (in 1840); and in due course the southern approach was marked by lightvessels at the Tongue (1847) and Girdler (1848) sands, with another being added (between these two) in the Princes Channel (1856). In 1851 two more screw-pile lighthouses were built further upriver, on
1691-471: The North Sea , in the south-east of Great Britain . An estuary can be defined according to different criteria (e.g. tidal, geographical, navigational or in terms of salinity). For this reason the limits of the Thames Estuary have been defined differently at different times and for different purposes. This limit of the estuary has been defined in two main ways: The transition between the Thames Estuary and
1780-602: The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge , the crossing is the busiest estuarial route in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of around 160,000 vehicles. The crossing has high levels of congestion, especially at peak times – with high levels of air pollution impacting neighbouring Thurrock and Dartford . A variety of additional crossings downstream of the Dartford Crossing have been proposed. Until 2024, there
1869-516: The 2002 ORBIT Multi-Model Study, which examined orbital transport problems around London. In 2008, Metrotidal Ltd proposed the "Medway-Canvey Island crossing", a £2–4 billion combined road and rail tunnel between Medway and Canvey Island that would include a surge-tide barrier and a tidal power plant , which was supported by Kent County Council , Essex County Council , the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and
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#17328523080221958-453: The DCO and 18 months of detailed design and pre-construction planning, construction work is estimated to take around 6 to 7 years. In March 2023, it was announced that the planned completion date of 2029 had been pushed back by two years. At this point, £800 million had already been spent on the project. As of December 2023, the target date for completion is 2032. The proposed route involves
2047-476: The DCO application and carry out further work for a resubmission in 2021. On 20 March 2021, the 120 day internal deadline was missed. In summer 2022, a further local consultation took place, with a new DCO application submitted in November 2022. The DCO process is expected to take around 18 months, which will include public hearings. A decision on the Lower Thames Crossing was due on 20 June 2024, but this
2136-461: The Department for Transport proposed three major options to increase capacity east of London over the River Thames to be built downstream of the existing Dartford Crossing and an additional proposal to increase capacity at the Dartford Crossing. There were three additional route options identified: Following the first stage of location identification and appraisal, the 2009 study concluded that
2225-757: The East and West Barrows, the Nob, the Knock, Kentish Knock , the John, the Sunk, the Girdler, and Long Sand/the Long Sands. Shallow-bottomed barges and coasters would navigate the swatchways at flood tide, and would cross the sand banks at spitways, points where the water was least shallow, and just deep enough at that point of the tide. If they missed the moment they would heave to (lay anchor) and wait for
2314-629: The Essex marshes. His The Mirror of the Sea (1906) contains a memorable description of the area as seen from the Thames. He refers to this area in the first pages of his novel Heart of Darkness , describing it as both the launching place of England's great ships of exploration and colonization and, in ancient times, the site of colonization of the British Isles by the Roman Empire. The form of speech of many of
2403-502: The Netherlands, for example). Instead, coastal navigators and pilots relied on the use of transits (the alignment of prominent structures or natural features on land) for guidance. In 1566 Trinity House of Deptford (which oversaw pilotage on the Thames) was empowered to 'make, erect and set up [...] beacons, marks and signs for the sea' (albeit at its own expense). Not long afterwards,
2492-654: The North Sea has been located at various notional boundaries, including: The estuary just east of the Tideway has a tidal range of 4 metres. Winds excluded, it moves at 2.6 knots (4.8 km/h; 3.0 mph) in bi-monthly spring tides. The estuary is one of the largest of 170 such inlets on the coast of Great Britain . It constitutes a major shipping route , with thousands of movements each year, including: large oil tankers , container ships , bulk carriers (of loose materials/liquids), and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferries. It
2581-702: The Princes-Queens Channel and the South Channel to the south, to a lesser extent the Kings Channel and the Swin to the north. The Swin was used by barges and leisure craft from the Essex rivers, and coasters and colliers from the north east. These channels were made up of natural troughs; Yantlet Channel (Sea Reach), Oaze Deep, Knock John Channel, Black Deep/ Black Deep Channel which have been much-marked. These are separated by slow-moving sandbanks with names such as
2670-562: The Resort subsequently agreed with Paramount to separate and the project became known as the London Resort. Following meetings between representatives of the project and government ministers ( George Osborne , Bob Neill , Brandon Lewis and Kris Hopkins ), it became the first commercial venture to be awarded nationally significant infrastructure project status, allowing the developers to bypass local planning requirements. In 2014, it
2759-455: The accounts of owners Swanscombe Development LLP. On 29 March 2022, plans were officially withdrawn, citing Natural England's concerns and issues with the classification of Tilbury as a free port . Chief executive PY Gerbeau announced the company's intention to submit fresh plans before the end of the year. In December 2022 it was announced that the plans for the park had been scaled back and that PY Gerbeau would step down as CEO and that
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2848-525: The application for the resort was officially withdrawn following concerns raised by Natural England , and issues with the free port status of Tilbury . The company announced its intention to scale back plans and to resubmit an application the following year. London Resort Company Holdings went into administration in March 2023. The project was largely backed by Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi , who also served as director until his own bankruptcy in 2023. Some doubt that
2937-524: The application should continue to be delayed. The Examining Authority was critical of LRCH's approach to providing information and said that the applicant's conduct was a relevant consideration for what happens next. In March 2022, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson withdrew his support for the London Resort, citing LRCH's failure to engage with local residents and the impact the resort would have on traffic and wildlife. Interviewed in April 2023, he said he considered
3026-488: The boundary. On 24 November, LRCH's Chief Executive wrote to the Planning Inspectorate, describing Natural England's decision as erroneous, before announcing “subtle changes” to the design of the project in response to the SSSI designation. The Chief Executive also set out their “off-site ecological compensation strategy is being reframed to directly account for SSSI impacts”. Natural England “compensation cannot adequately address
3115-501: The carbon emissions of the road scheme are expected to be amongst the highest of any major road scheme currently developed by National Highways. Supporters of the project include His Majesty’s Government, business groups, trade organisations and major transportation hubs such as the Port of Dover . According to the Federation of Small Businesses , 83% of local businesses surveyed support the proposed crossing. Some local authorities support
3204-644: The coastline. Where higher land reaches the coast, there are some larger settlements, such as Clacton-on-Sea to the north in Essex, Herne Bay, Kent , and the Southend-on-Sea area within the narrower part of the estuary. The Thames Estuary is the focal part of the 21st-century toponym, the " Thames Gateway ", designated as one of the principal development areas in Southern England. The Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission report published in June 2018 identified
3293-411: The commencement of this Examination as requested by the applicant (LRCH) remains justified, appropriate and in the public interest. The Examining Authority signalled that if the delay was curtailed, it could proceed directly to examine the application as currently before it, commencing in March 2022. LRCH's option on the majority of the land needed for the development expires in December 2022, according to
3382-476: The construction of the road into three sections. Two contractors would build the roads north and south of the tunnel, at a cost of £1.3 billion and £600 million respectively. Another contractor would build the tunnel, at a cost of £2.3 billion. This would allow construction of the project to begin immediately after the DCO process is completed. The crossing was slated to cost between £6.4 billion and £8.28 billion, but investment in local roads
3471-456: The contractor for the £1.2 billion Roads North of the Thames contract to construct 10 miles (16 km) of highways connecting the M25 at Junction 29 and the A13 with the northern side of the proposed tunnel. In July 2023, Skanska was announced as the contractor for the £450 million Kent Roads contract to construct 3.7 miles (6.0 km) of roads connecting the A2/M2 to the southern side of
3560-473: The data of their London Resort's own wildlife surveys". Natural England subsequently told the BBC that said it would try to address the concerns raised in a "small number of objections". On 10 November 2021, Natural England's Board met, and decided to confirm the SSSI designation. In doing so, it disregarded LRCH's objections to the SSSI, with the board papers making clear that only very minor adjustments would be made to
3649-507: The decay of the steeple of Margate Church (an important landmark for negotiating 'the Narrows', a complex route between sandbanks used by vessels sailing to or from London along the North Kent coast) led to Trinity House marking the Narrows with buoys in the late 16th century. In his coastal survey of 1682-93, Greenvile Collins records five buoys around the Narrows, just north of Reculver , on
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3738-499: The development boundary. Some of these are within the Shorne and Ashenbank Woods , a Site of Special Scientific Interest . However, the Trust states that Highways England have not disclosed how many habitats will be affected by the project, and calls for them to release this information. Highways England say that new trees will be planted to compensate for the lost ancient woodlands, which "is not
3827-538: The diversity of freshwater fish is smaller, primarily roach and dace. Euryhaline species then dominate, such as flounder , European seabass , mullet , and smelt . Further east salinity increases and conditions become fully marine and the fish fauna resemble that of the adjacent North Sea , a spectrum of euryhaline and stenohaline types. An alike pattern of zones applies to the aquatic plants and invertebrates. Joseph Conrad lived in Stanford-le-Hope close to
3916-608: The economic potential of the region. In 2020 the Thames Estuary Growth Board was appointed, led by government-appointed Envoy Kate Willard OBE, to unlock the potential of the UK's number one green growth opportunity. Entrepreneurs and investors have looked at the greater estuary as a possible place for a new airport , and have expanded Southend Airport in the 2010s, which has a rail link to Liverpool Street station , London among others. The Thames flowing through London
4005-551: The established local accents. The term London Accent is generally avoided, as it can have many meanings. Forms of "Estuary English", as a hybrid between Received pronunciation and various London accents, can be heard in all of the New Towns, all of the coastal resorts, and in the larger cities and towns along the Thames Estuary. For commercial shipping rounding the Nore sandbank and thus accessing Greater London, main deep-water routes were
4094-639: The first park. The plan also revealed a proposed 3000 seat convention/conference centre, an eSports arena and a number of indoor and outdoor theatres. The project has received mixed responses within Kent. A commentary in the London Evening Standard in October 2012 called into question the commitment of some of the development partners, namely landowner Lafarge Tarmac , builder Brookfield Construction and property company Development Securities. In December 2012
4183-683: The harm that would result to the SSSI from the development proposal, as the feasibility of doing this is considered low and very unlikely to offer an equivalent assemblage and richness of species”. The Thames Crossing Action Group, who represent those opposed to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing have voiced concerns over traffic issues that would be generated by the London Resort Similar concerns have also been voiced about traffic and transport by Transport for London, Network Rail, and local Government leaders. Writing in 2021, local newspapers News Shopper and Kent Live both queried whether
4272-456: The intention of resubmitting them in 2023. In March 2023, London Resort Company Holdings went into administration . In August 2019, LRCH announced a partnership with Radisson Hotels to build a 430-room hotel within the resort. In the environmental scoping report published in June 2020, it was detailed that the park intends to build 4 hotels in addition to the theme parks totalling approximately 3550 rooms with 2500 rooms to be available for
4361-547: The largest and longest road tunnel in the UK. There would be three junctions: Orsett on the A13 , Thong on the A2 and north-bound slip roads on the M25 at junction 29. Junctions have been removed on the A226 south of Chalk and on the A128 at Chadwell St Mary in Essex. The Woodland Trust opposes the project and expects twelve ancient woodlands and fifteen veteran trees to be close to or within
4450-447: The late 2000s, the crossing is designed to relieve the pressure on the existing A282 Dartford Crossing. The proposed route would connect the M25 motorway and A13 north of the river to the M2 motorway south of the river. If built, the crossing would have the longest road tunnel in the UK at 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The road number A122 has been identified for the proposed road. The crossing
4539-519: The long term. The study considered five corridors that could provide a future crossing of the Thames, with options A, B and C to be investigated in further detail. The study also identified a lack of demand for additional passenger rail or rail freight capacity to cross the river beyond projects already under construction/completed, noting the High Speed 1 and Crossrail projects would provide cross-river capacity between London and Kent. In October 2010,
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#17328523080224628-551: The navigation lights of the River Thames between London Bridge and Yantlet was transferred by Act of Parliament from the Thames Conservancy to the Corporation of Trinity House ; responsibility for buoyage was transferred likewise in 1878. In 1885 the beacons at Broadness and Stoneness were replaced with iron-frame experimental lighthouses, each lit by a novel system which would allow the light to function unattended (except for
4717-417: The next tide. Recreational craft are expected use channels most suited to the size of their vessel. Their main guide says to use when navigating to or from: To cross the south-east quarter of the estuary large vessels use Fisherman's Gat , and small vessels to were expected to use Foulger's Gat . Provision of buoys and beacons for the purpose of navigation came relatively late to England (compared to
4806-807: The northern foreshore of Sea Reach: at Mucking and on the Chapman sands (just off Canvey Island ). Prior to 1684 beacons were set up on the mudflats north of the Swin channel, to help vessels approaching the Thames from the north to navigate the sands. Pan-sand Beacon was set up by Trinity House in 1774 to mark a dangerous sandbank on the southern approach. Similar daymarks were set up on other nearby sandbanks in later years, including on Margate Hook (1843), Middle Ground (1844) and Shingles (1846). Trinity House also maintained beacons further upriver, including at Broadness (established in 1821), Stoneness (1839), Erith (1830) and Tripcock (1832). In 1864 responsibility for maintaining
4895-513: The park included: In April 2021, a dinosaur-themed "Base Camp" land was announced featuring: Paramount Pictures was attached to the proposal, with the intention of showcasing Hollywood and British culture. Several companies that planned to support the project but later backed out include Aardman Animations , the British Film Institute , the BBC , and ITV . The latter two backed out of
4984-434: The people of the area, principally the accents of those from Kent and Essex, is often known as Estuary English . The term is a term for a milder variety of the "London Accent". The spread of Estuary English extends many hundreds of miles outside London, and all of the neighbouring home counties around London have residents who moved from London and brought their version of London accents with them, leading to interference with
5073-492: The planning application says that “investors to fund the equity and debt financing have been identified but have chosen to remain confidential at present”. A Development Consent Order (DCO) application was submitted on 31 December 2020. It was originally envisaged that the Examination of the application would get underway in April 2021, but the applicant (LRCH) then asked for an additional four months to submit updates, following
5162-481: The planning application will be made lingers, and the appointed Examining Authority was increasingly critical of the lack of progress made by the LRCH in updating documents ahead of the examination. The park was initially planned in partnership with Paramount Pictures , and would have been known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, with the park's theme having an emphasis on Britain and Kent, as well as Paramount films and entertainment properties . The team at
5251-424: The plans for the resort would be resubmitted in 2023. In March 2023, LRCH went into administration, and said they were going to resubmit plans, although this has yet to happen. In November, Paramount sued LRCH, and nothing else about the project has come since. On 27 June 2024, Swamscombe Development LLP was listed for sale and thus the land for The London Resort itself along with it. The themed lands planned for
5340-449: The pressure off the defences and main watercourses. There are many smaller estuaries in Essex, including the rivers Colne , Blackwater and Crouch . Small coastal villages depend on an economy of fishing, boat-building, and yachting. The Isle of Sheppey , the Isle of Grain , Canvey Island , Two Tree Island , Havengore Island , New England Island , Rushley Island , Potton Island , Foulness Island and Mersea Island are part of
5429-464: The previous Option C. The proposed route would run from the M25 at North Ockendon to the A2 at Thong , including an intermediate junction with the A13 and A1089 roads. The route would be 14.3 miles (23 km) including 2.6 miles (4.3 km) in twin tunnels with three traffic lanes, and would be an all-purpose trunk road rather than a motorway. Construction was expected to take six years. In April 2021, Highways England announced that they had split
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#17328523080225518-471: The principal navigation lights, buoys and other marks to the north (port) and south (starboard) of the main deep-water channels of the River Thames from Gallions Reach to the Sunk Light Float. The Thames is in IALA region A so port buoys are red and starboard buoys are green. Racon T Racon T Notes wiki 51°30′N 0°35′E / 51.500°N 0.583°E / 51.500; 0.583 London Resort The London Resort
5607-550: The project in February 2022, after reports that the endangered Attulus distinguendus species of spider, better known as the distinguished jumping spider, was discovered to be living on the site. Other rides and attractions that were expected to be based on Paramount blockbusters were Mission: Impossible , The Italian Job and A Quiet Place . It was confirmed that 70% of the parks attractions would be indoors due to England's weather conditions, allowing year-round operation. BBC Worldwide productions expected to feature in
5696-441: The project secured the services of Chris Townsend , as its commercial director. Townsend performed the same role for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on behalf of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and is charged with attracting investors for debt and equity funding. In September 2020, the conservation charity Buglife began a campaign to save the Swanscombe Peninsula from development and to have
5785-471: The project would be a training academy for the entertainment and hospitality sectors, a new country park, a large science and education visitor complex and "the biggest performing arts centre in Europe". With an initial completion date announced for 2019, the park and related enterprises were expected to employ 27,000 people. Plans were since reviewed and revised, with the London Resort announcing its intention to open in 2024. Considerable uncertainty as to when
5874-411: The project. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace , Woodland Trust , Kent Wildlife Trust and Campaign to Protect Rural England have expressed their opposition to the project on environmental grounds. 51°26′57″N 0°24′53″E / 51.4492°N 0.4147°E / 51.4492; 0.4147 Thames estuary The Thames Estuary is where the River Thames meets the waters of
5963-506: The proposed LTC would not resolve all the problems both north and south of the river. In July 2019, Highways England said they expected to submit a planning application in summer 2020 and had a target for road opening of 2027. On 26 October 2020, Highways England submitted a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the project. However, it was withdrawn the following month after the planning inspectorate asked for more information regarding environmental impact and construction plans. In January 2009,
6052-452: The proposed crossing, despite expressing specific concerns regarding environmental impacts. Some campaign groups support the principle of a new crossing of the Thames, but not the chosen route. The Thames Crossing Action Group prefers new, longer tunnels at Dartford that would allow long-distance traffic on the M25 to bypass the existing Dartford Crossing. Two local authorities, Thurrock Borough Council and Gravesham Borough Council oppose
6141-416: The proposed tunnel. In December 2023, a joint venture (JV) of Bouygues and J. Murphy & Sons was announced as the contractor for the £1.3 billion Tunnels and Approaches contract to construct the tunnel, tunnel systems and approach roads. To save costs, the Bouygues-Murphy JV intends to use one tunnel boring machine for both tunnel bores, turning it around and reusing it. Subject to agreement on
6230-409: The remoteness and tranquility of the area. The Trust is also concerned that the project will increase car dependency and induce demand , and that as a result it will not decrease congestion and will lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions. Traffic modelling by Highways England predicts that constructing the Lower Thames Crossing would reduce the number of cars using the Dartford Tunnel . However,
6319-414: The resort will ever be built. In 2023, Paramount sued London Resort Company Holdings, alleging that the restructuring implemented earlier that year was unfair and featured irregularities. At the 2012 launch of the project it was announced that the complex would feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels. Allied to
6408-484: The resort will ever open, given the extensive delays and lack of progress. On 23 November, a number of existing local businesses wrote – along with the Save Swanscombe Peninsula campaign – to the Planning Inspectorate, challenging the approach which has been taken in granting the applicant (LRCH) a series of extensions, contrary to Government Guidance. The letter set out a series of concerns, including how
6497-417: The road. Highways England initially refused to release emissions figures. However, in response to a freedom of information request in December 2020 it was revealed that construction of the Lower Thames Crossing is expected to release two million tonnes of carbon dioxide. A further 3.2 million tonnes would be emitted by traffic created by the road over sixty years of operation. The Woodland Trust claims that
6586-506: The site designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Buglife describe the peninsula as “a brownfield of the highest quality for wildlife, as well as a valued community space for walking, bird watching, angling and escaping the hustle and bustle of North Kent”. In March 2021, Natural England designated the Swanscombe Peninsula as a SSSI for nationally important invertebrates, breeding birds, plants and geology. This designation
6675-486: The site, with a scheme incorporating “lower density, mixed uses and ecological improvements”, instead of London Resort. In April 2013 newspaper reports claimed development may be delayed by the discovery of a rare species of spider. Sefton pledged to remove the colony of distinguished jumping spiders ( Attulus distinguendus ) to another suitable site. The following month, the Kent Messenger reported that plans for
6764-571: The southern approach to the Thames. The Swin (the northern approach) was marked with buoys at the easternmost points of the Gunfleet, Middle and Buxey sands, and by beacons on the Whitaker, Shoe and Blacktail spits. A buoy marked the easternmost point of the Nore sandbank at this time, and three more buoys marked sandbanks in the middle part of the estuary (Spaniard, Red Sand and the Oaze). The Nore Lightship ,
6853-518: The theme park could be endangered if a new Lower Thames Crossing was sited over the Swanscombe Peninsula and quoted Sefton: "It could really scupper plans. We are in the final throes of negotiating a very large investment and this makes it very difficult." The proposal was rejected that December. In June 2020, further details were released outlining the steps being taken in preparation for submitting planning permission in late 2020, with public consultations scheduled for Q3 2020. An environmental report
6942-559: The theme park were Doctor Who , Sherlock and Top Gear Rides and attractions that would have also have been featured included the ITV children's programmes Thunderbirds Are Go and Robozuna . The site, which is not in London, straddles the border of the Dartford and Gravesham boroughs and both authorities have previously pledged their support. Dartford Borough Council has since published its preference for an alternative proposal for
7031-429: The three locations (A, B and C) offered the greatest benefits in terms of relieving congestion at the existing crossing and should be assessed further. Locations D and E were discounted due to either not meeting the traffic objective to relieve congestion, or providing very limited relief at the existing Dartford Crossing, as well as poor to low value for money. Highways England issued revised proposals in 2020 based on
7120-621: The total number of cars crossing the Thames (via the Lower Thames Crossing and the Dartford Tunnel) would increase. In addition to this, modelling predicts that the Dartford Tunnel would still be operating above capacity. Highways England have stated that the road will be the "most environmentally sustainable road project delivered in the UK". Proposed landscaping and mitigation includes planting over 260 hectares of woodland, converting farmland to new habitats and building green bridges across
7209-404: The uncertainty is blighting the 100+ businesses operating in the shadow of compulsory acquisition, before going on to ask the Examining Authority to take urgent action to prevent delay of the examination beyond April 2022. It was following receipt of this letter which the Examining Authority decided to launch a consultation with the applicant and interested parties on about whether the examination of
7298-609: The world's first lightvessel , was established in the Estuary as a private venture in 1732 to mark the 'best position for entering the Thames and Medway, and to clear the Nore Sand'. The coastwise approach from the north was aided by the establishment of the Sunk lightvessel in 1802 'to mark the north-east entrance to East Swin, and to guide vessels round Long Sand'. Later, the Swin channel was further marked by lightvessels at Swin Middle (1837) and Mouse (1838), and by screw-pile lighthouses on
7387-477: Was a ferry service operating between Gravesend and Tilbury, which predominantly carried foot passengers and bicycles, Monday to Saturday. An additional Thames crossing downstream from Dartford was first considered in the Roads for Prosperity white paper in 1989, noting that it would "[relieve the] east side of the M25 between Kent and Essex". The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) was recommended for further investigation in
7476-614: Was a proposed theme park and resort in Swanscombe , Kent , first announced on 8 October 2012 and since repeatedly delayed. Originally known as the London Paramount Entertainment Resort , the project originally involved Paramount Pictures . When Paramount pulled out of the project in 2017, the complex's name was shortened to just London Resort. The company later acquired the necessary licences to still have rides based on Paramount Pictures' films. In March 2022,
7565-486: Was also submitted in June 2020. On 31 December 2020, LRCH submitted its Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application to the Government, via the Planning Inspectorate . On 28 January 2021, LRCH were advised that the application had been accepted for examination. This was followed on 19 February by an invitation for interested parties to register their interest in the application, up until 31 March. A public inquiry
7654-410: Was delayed by six months because of the July 2024 general election . A new planning application was submitted in November 2022; the planning process was expected to take 18 months, but this was extended to 4 October 2024, due to the July 2024 general election . A decision to further postpone a decision, to 23 May 2025, was announced on 7 October 2024. In January 2023, Balfour Beatty was announced as
7743-461: Was hoped that the park would spur the development of a new Garden City development at nearby Ebbsfleet . A ferry terminal is proposed on Swanscombe Peninsula to bring visitors from another new terminal in Tilbury , Essex . The cost of the development is estimated at £3.5 billion, although it is not yet clear how – and from whom – this funding will be provided. The Funding Statement submitted with
7832-522: Was looking at a significant variation to Option B: "The possibility of a new Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe peninsula must now be taken very seriously". In April 2017, the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling confirmed Option C as the preferred route for the Lower Thames Crossing. In November 2017, Highways England announced that its 'current thinking' for the design of the route encompassed
7921-438: Was subject to a four-month period (until 12 July 2021) in which anyone could make representations or object to the notification. Following the ending of the representation period, London Resort Company Holdings announced that they had objected to the designation, and accused Natural England of seeking to frustrate their planning application. In response, Buglife described the objection as a "transparent PR effort that misrepresents
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