U.K. Government Funding Gives Green Light to Lower Thames Crossing

The government funding announced June 16 sets the Lower Thames Crossing on the path to securing private investment. This follows the granting of planning permission for the project in March 2025.

Matt Palmer, Executive Director, Lower Thames Crossing said: “The government funding announced today means, with planning consent secured and no legal challenges, we can now take the steps necessary to bring in billions in private investment and get on with delivering this vital economic infrastructure project at pace.”

The project is working with the government on the long-term funding model, and construction could start as early as 2026, with the new road expected to open in the early 2030s

Planning Permission for the Lower Thames Crossing was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport on March 25, 2025, following a comprehensive program of consultation and engagement.

In the coming months the project will continue to carry out detailed design work, surveys and investigations that will help further reduce its carbon footprint, minimise disruption on the local area, and create opportunities for jobs and training in the local community.

The project is currently holding a series of events to update the local community on its plans and upcoming surveys and investigation works. View the event locations and dates.

The Lower Thames Crossing is a new road and tunnel under the Thames that will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent, to the A13 in Essex and M25 in the London Borough of Havering. It will drive economic growth by tackling congestion at the Dartford Crossing and creating a new connection between the ports of the South-East, the Midlands and the North.

The project is designed to be Britain’s greenest road. As a pathfinder project exploring carbon neutral construction, the project will reduce its own carbon footprint and drive change throughout the UK construction industry by scaling up the use of low-carbon materials and methods. It will create six times more green space than road, and includes one million trees, a community woodland, two new public parks and 40 miles of new and improved pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

For further information, visit the project website.

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