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Lower Thames Crossing

Answer

The Lower Thames Crossing will connect Kent and Essex, almost doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London. This will improve journeys and ease the significant congestion at the Dartford Crossing, which currently causes unreliable journey times for businesses as well as other users. As a result, businesses will benefit from quicker and more reliable access to key markets, resources and staff, as well as the opportunities from being part of the supply chain for the works. The LTC will be designed for the largest vehicles and modern goods vehicles, without time-consuming and delay-inducing escorts.

The majority of the construction costs will be financed through a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model on the basis of the user charges that are generated. The details of the charging regime for the LTC have not yet been set. These charges are necessary to cover the costs of providing the service, whether the new infrastructure was publicly or privately financed. To protect the interests of users, including businesses in Kent and Essex, an independent regulator will be established. This regulator will ensure fair pricing and performance standards across both the Lower Thames Crossing and the Dartford Crossing, which will be operated in an integrated way.

As set out in the Accounting Officer Assessment summary published in February 2026, which followed a re-baseline of costs and a decision on the preferred funding model for the Lower Thames Crossing, the value for money assessment has considered 3 funding options. In terms of the Benefit Cost Ratio, under all 3 funding options the scheme benefits are expected to exceed cost and are within the low value for money (VfM) category. The relative VfM of the RAB and full public funding options is marginal. The economic analysis that includes an assessment of a benefit-cost ratio of different potential changes to the charging regime compared to that assumed in the previous VfM results is ongoing. This incorporates the impact on businesses both from LTC and the potential changes at Dartford Crossing. This will be brought together with other considerations into the overall business case for the project when making future decisions about the scheme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

14201

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Business Essex Kent Tolls Lower Thames crossing

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk