National Highways Opens £60m Insurance Tender for Lower Thames Crossing Construction

A major insurance procurement has been launched for the Lower Thames Crossing, with National Highways seeking comprehensive cover for one of the UK's largest planned infrastructure schemes as preparations continue ahead of full construction.

National Highways has taken another step towards delivering the Lower Thames Crossing by launching a procurement process for an extensive construction insurance programme valued at up to £60 million.

The proposed Owner Controlled Insurance Programme (OCIP) will provide insurance protection throughout the construction phase of the project and is expected to remain in place for almost seven years, running from late 2026 until November 2033.

The Lower Thames Crossing is one of the UK's most significant road infrastructure projects. Once completed, it will create a new strategic road link between the A2 and M2 in Kent and the A13 and M25 in Essex, providing an alternative route across the River Thames and easing long-standing congestion at the Dartford Crossing.

The scheme includes the construction of approximately 23 kilometres of new highway, together with a 4.2-kilometre twin-bore tunnel beneath the Thames Estuary. Preparatory works have already begun as the project moves closer to full delivery.

The insurance package, advertised through the Procurement Act 2023, has an estimated value of £60 million excluding VAT (£75 million including VAT) and has been divided into nine separate lots, enabling specialist insurers to bid for different areas of risk.

The largest element of the procurement is the principal construction insurance package, which combines contractor's all risks insurance with primary public liability, delay in start-up cover and terrorism protection.

Valued at around £52 million excluding VAT, this single lot represents the vast majority of the overall programme and will provide the core insurance framework throughout construction.

Additional lots focus on progressively higher layers of public liability insurance, providing increasing levels of financial protection beyond the primary cover.

These range from a £22.5 million excess layer immediately above the base policy through to substantially larger limits designed to protect against major incidents during construction.

National Highways is also seeking specialist environmental liability insurance to safeguard against pollution or environmental damage that could arise during the delivery of the project.

Three dedicated lots have been included for environmental protection, offering varying levels of cover with aggregate limits extending to £40 million.

The procurement is being undertaken using the competitive flexible procedure introduced under the Procurement Act 2023, allowing National Highways to engage with the insurance market while selecting providers capable of supporting a project of national significance.

Organisations wishing to participate will be required to complete both a Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the full tender documentation as part of the submission process.

The timetable for the procurement is already underway. Clarification questions must be submitted by 15 July, with completed tenders due by 31 July. National Highways expects to announce its preferred insurers on 30 November 2026.

The insurance programme represents another milestone as the Lower Thames Crossing continues its transition from planning into delivery, ensuring that one of Britain's largest transport infrastructure projects is backed by a comprehensive risk management framework before major construction activity gathers pace.