DfT Source Denies Reports That National Highways Has Been Removed from LTC Project

A government source has downplayed recent reports suggesting that Whitehall will take on a greater role in delivering the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project.

The Guardian reported that National Highways had been removed from responsibility for the £10 billion road link between Essex and Kent, citing internal consultation documents indicating that the Department for Transport (DfT)would oversee project costs while National Highways would “focus on managing, maintaining and renewing the network.”

The newspaper suggested that Treasury officials had pushed the change after Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed concern about project delays, with oversight proposed under Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. A funding model for the LTC has not yet been confirmed, though the Treasury is exploring private finance to contribute to construction costs.

National Highways received a development consent order (DCO) for the LTC in March, more than four-and-a-half years after the organisation—then called Highways England—first submitted its application in October 2020. That initial application was withdrawn the following month “in response to feedback” and resubmitted in November 2022. The project’s original completion target was 2027.

A DfT source has refuted claims that National Highways has been stripped of responsibility for the project, emphasizing that delivery remains under its control. The source said:

“How major projects are governed and funded is a matter for ministers, while delivery remains the responsibility of National Highways. This has not changed.”

The source also confirmed that the project scope is legally defined by the DCO, and any changes would require approval from the Secretary of State for Transport.

A DfT spokesperson highlighted the significance of the project:

“Backed by £590 million, the Lower Thames Crossing is the most significant road building project in a generation. It will reduce local congestion, improve links between the Midlands, North, and key South East ports, and support regional growth as outlined in our Plan for Change.”

Contract awards for the project are already underway. The Bouygues Travaux Publics-Murphy joint venture secured the £1.34 billion main tunnelling contract in December 2023, while Balfour Beatty won the £1.2 billion roads contract north of the Thames in January 2023.