Sadiq Khan, the new Mayor of London, has allowed the deadline to withdraw a Development Consent Order (DCO) pass this week whereby the Silvertown tunnel road public private partnership (PPP) project stays on schedule.

As the UK Planning Inspectorate accepted the application on Tuesday, May 31st, it must now decide whether to approve the DCO. Tranport for London (TfL) submitted its DCO application on May 3rd, and expects a decision in 2017, according to TfL.

According to sources, Sadiq Khan stated:

“Silvertown Tunnel has the potential to meet current and future demand to cross the river and, importantly, could transform cross river public transport connections. However, I am still considering the merits of the tunnel and will review this as part of the six-month public examination that is due to take place following the Development Consent Order.”

“I will be looking again at the particular issue of tolling. It could help address the issue of the tunnel stimulating new car journeys but I am determined to ensure that any user charges are fair and also encourage the take-up of the cleanest vehicles.”

It is known that following a recent consultation, some changes, which includes the relocation of service buildings around the northern and southern portals, improved pedestrian and cycle crossings, have been made in the original project.

The project involves the development of a new river crossing between Silvertown and Greenwich Peninsula in east London. The river crossing will comprise of a twin bore road tunnel alongside Blackwall Tunnel with connections to the A1020 Silvertown Way/Lower Lea Crossing at the north and to the A102 Blackwall Tunnel Approach at the south. It is expected that the new infrastructure would, among others:

• Cut down on queuing at the Blackwall tunnel
• Include user charging at the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels to manage demand and provide a source of revenue to help build the new tunnel
• Provide an opportunity to create new cross-river bus links in east London
• Improve road connections to and from Docklands and east London from south London

The total project investment is estimated at £750 million (US$1.082 billion). 

See how the new tunnel would link to the existing road network: