Election causes delay to Lower Thames Crossing

CGI image of proposed Lower Thames Crossing between Gravesend and Tilbury

A decision on the Lower Thames Crossing is to be delayed by six months because of the general election.

The planning application was due to be considered on 20 June by the secretary of state for transport, but that date falls during the election campaign.

The date has now been pushed back to 4 October, according to National Highways.

A spokesperson said the delay is to allow the new government "appropriate time" to consider the application.

The statement said the Department for Transport would endeavour to issue the decision "ahead of the new deadline".

The £9bn plan would see a new 14 mile (23km) road, of which 2.6 miles (4.1km) would be underground.

It will connect the M25 in Essex with the M2 and A2 in Kent via a new tunnel under the Thames estuary to the east of Tilbury on the north bank and Gravesend on the south.

National Highways said the crossing would be the "greenest road" in the UK.