LDA Design on consent for Lower Thames Crossing

lDA Design has been speaking about its work on the Lower Thames Crossing, for which the Secretary of State has recently granted consent. The project represents a major new road designed to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Tunnel.

The Lower Thames Crossing is the largest single road investment project in the UK since the M25 more than 30 years ago. It will pass underneath the River Thames, connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex, almost doubling road capacity across the Thames, east of London. Of the 23km route, 4.25km is tunnel, making it the UK’s largest and longest road tunnel.

LDA Design says:

'It should mean more reliable journey times. It is also expected to lead to new jobs and opportunities, and will better connect people to existing work and places, including the UK’s ports and distribution hubs.

'LDA initially developed the project’s design narrative around the principle of place-specific design. This approach includes ensuring that the landscape has a higher profile than the road and the structures that support it. The result is that almost 80 percent is in a cutting, false cutting or tunnel. There are seven new green bridges.

'New planting and earthworks are designed to be in keeping with local context and to create a memorable journey experience. The project will also restore nature across Kent and Essex by delivering six times more green space than road. Plans include one million additional trees, a new community woodland, and two new public parks overlooking the Thames.

'Having supported the DCO application, which was submitted in 2022, the LDA Design team provided additional input during examination. Our involvement continues with detailed design for the central contract, including the main tunnel crossing and two large-scale open parks with views across the Thames.

'This is a hugely complex with a large team, including Fereday Pollard as lead architects, Arcadis, Jacobs, COWI and the Design Council.'

For more information, please contact Andrew Kay. 

Header image: Sketch of section of Lower Thames Crossing and Chalk Park credit LDA Design.

Illustrative landscape masterplan for Chalk Park and Thong Lane Green Bridge, courtesy LDA Design

View towards Tilbury Fields, a new public park, adjacent to the north portal, courtesy of Fereday Pollard