Responding to the UK Government’s latest consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) proposal, Transport Action Network (TAN) has deplored National Highways for completely washing its hands of its unaffordable scheme’s wider environmental impacts, in particular road user carbon emissions.
The UK’s latest carbon dioxide figures show that transport was responsible for 36% of all emissions in 2023, with surface transport – of which road traffic is the biggest contributor by far – responsible for around two-thirds of this.
The scheme is likely to cost at least £12bn and is the largest project left behind from the Conservatives’ roads programme. It will take 7 years to construct for less than 5 years of traffic relief at the Dartford Crossing as new demand will be induced. The project thus fails on even the most basic of its objectives.
Even under the optimistic projections of National Highways and with many costs hidden, the road is expected to return only 22p for every pound spent. This is a far lower return than for a range of public transport, rail freight and active travel schemes awaiting funding across England.
TAN Founder and Director Chris Todd said:
“Heartbreaking images showing southern California ablaze – fuelled by climate change – are tragically ironic given this was where the car was king for so long. The disastrous LTC, inherited from the Conservatives, threatens to supercharge UK carbon emissions, undermining the new Government’s climate pledges. Yet the whole of the country is expected to pay for the plundering of at least £12bn from public finances to pay for this white elephant. Investment in passenger and freight rail schemes, buses, trams and active travel as well as pothole repairs and road safety improvements throughout the nation will have to be cut to pay for this largesse.”
TAN Roads and Climate Campaigner Rebecca Lush said:
“Global shocks affecting the UK economy show right now why every pound of public expenditure needs to be used with the greatest care. The LTC fails to deliver on the Labour Government’s Missions to secure high levels of economic growth and dramatic reductions in carbon emissions. The Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Transport Secretary should end this wasteful project and invest instead in sensible traffic management, public transport and rail freight schemes benefiting communities in the Thames Estuary. This will bring far greater benefits to the UK as a whole.”
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Notes to editors:
- The Development Consent Order for the LTC is due to be decided by 23 May 2025. More information on the LTC can be found here.
- TAN’s full response to the Secretary of State’s eighth consultation letter on the LTC may be viewed here.
- Dr Colin Black’s report on the LTC may be viewed in full here.
- The LTC scheme was predicted to cost £9bn in August 2020. Applying inflation for road construction up to September 2024 gives a new total of £11.3bn. That’s not including paying for roads – such as the Tilbury link road – that were removed from the scheme or for an expanded Orsett Cock junction that will be needed to cope with demand. Nor does it include the extra costs that National Highways says it is promising to pay contractors for low carbon construction technology. ONS Construction output price indices – new infrastructure.
- TAN’s submission to the Secretary of State for Transport on cancelling the entire Conservatives’ new roads programme may be viewed here.
- TAN was set up in 2019 by director Chris Todd to help communities press for better (and more sustainable) transport. It supports more investment in bus and rail services and active travel. To enable this and better roads maintenance (fewer potholes) it continues to oppose the previous Government’s damaging roads programme. It also supports better integration between transport and planning.
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