A project for which we undertook environmental assessments, Transport for London’s proposed new road tunnel under the River Thames, has been granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Transport for London’s proposed new road tunnel under the River Thames has been granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Secretary of State for Transport.

The new road tunnel will pass under the River Thames between Silvertown and north Greenwich, in London, connecting to the A1020 Silvertown Way/Lower Lea Crossing on the north side with A102 Blackwall Tunnel Approach on the south side. The main purpose of the new Tunnel is to relieve traffic congestion and improve reliability at the existing Blackwall Tunnel by providing an alternative river crossing route between the Royal Docks and Lower Lea Valley area and Greenwich Peninsula.

Transport for London needed to apply for a DCO to build and operate the scheme as it was designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project in 2012.

The Planning Inspectorate, the government agency responsible for examining applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, recommended the scheme to the Secretary of State for Transport following a public examination in 2017.

Natalie Frost, Head of Planning and Licensing at ABPmer said “We are delighted that Transport for London has been granted permission for this scheme. It is always good news when a project we have contributed to receives permission to proceed.”

ABPmer was part of the team lead by Arcadis that completed the environmental assessments required to inform the consenting of the scheme. The company undertook the Water Framework Directive Assessment and assessed the potential impacts on marine ecology arising from the Silvertown Tunnel Crossing including the associated dredge, the construction and operation of a temporary jetty and advised on the appropriate mitigation and monitoring commitments in consultation with the Marine Management Organisation, Natural England and the Environment Agency.

The Order comes into force 31 May 2018.

All documents associated with the scheme can be found at the National Infrastructure Planning website.

^{Image: Transport for London Silvertown Tunnel Consultation Report 5.1}