By Layla Laidouci
A conservation charity has called on the environmental regulator appointed for the Lower Thames Crossing to ensure its approach is nature-led and protects the area’s “special wildlife”.
Natural England will now oversee all green safeguarding work for the major £9bn project, tipped to be the longest road tunnel in the UK between Kent and Essex.
It forms part of a new approach announced by the government yesterday (August 18) aimed at cutting red tape and keeping planning projects “firmly on track”.
Jamie Robins, programmes manager at Buglife, one of several wildlife groups that had opposed the project, believes it could transform how infrastructure projects are planned around nature.
He told KentOnline: “The Lower Thames Crossing’s (LTC) permission is based on its comprehensive compensation package.
“It’s vital that Natural England ensures it is delivered successfully and minimises the impacts on the Thames Estuary’s special wildlife.
“The LTC plans to use vast amounts of material and aggregates from the tunnel to create new habitats for wildlife and focus on creating low-nutrient, flower-rich habitats that many of our pollinators need to thrive.”
Granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Secretary of State for Transport in March, the project is currently in its delivery phase – which involves finalising designs and managing early works – before construction can begin.
Mr Robins highlighted that the LTC will manage 1,200ha of combined habitat across Kent and Essex to provide “excellent opportunities” for rewilding.
However, other action groups continue to oppose the scheme on the grounds that it will increase congestion and habitat loss.
In an official statement, Kent Wildlife Trust said: “This approval sets a dangerous precedent for future infrastructure projects, and once again shows nature is not being considered as critical infrastructure.”
The decision to appoint a lead regulator to the project comes after the government’s Corry Review made recommendations to cut environmental blocks and delays on construction planning processes.
Under the new approach, Natural England will oversee all environmental safeguarding work, while other watchdogs with an interest – the Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation – will give advice.
The system is aimed at reducing the time it takes to meet planning permission requirements and approvals for environmental plans.
It could also reduce costs, according to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said infrastructure, housing and nature are not “competing interests”.
“Sustainable development and nature recovery must go hand in hand, and urgent action is needed to restore our depleted nature and build desperately needed homes and infrastructure,” she said.
“That’s why we’re proud to be the lead environmental regulator delivering the Lower Thames Crossing.
“This model brings developers and all the regulators together to agree how to avoid environmental harm and plan opportunities for nature recovery, so streamlining the approvals process.”
Matt Palmer, executive director, Lower Thames Crossing, added: “As one of the Britain’s most important economic infrastructure projects we are delighted to be the first to work with a Lead Environmental Regulator.
“Driving economic growth and enhancing nature are at the heart of the Lower Thames Crossing.
“As we gear up to start construction, this new approach will help us to move at pace, while ensuring we protect the natural environment and meet our environmental commitments.”
