The UK Government has this morning announced that Thames Water has been given planning consent for the construction of the proposed £4.2 billion Tideway Tunnel.

The consent follows a six-month long planning inquiry by the Government’s Examining Authority (ExA)which began on 12 September 2013 and was completed on 12 March 2014. The examination was conducted on the basis of written evidence submitted to the ExA and evidence submitted and discussed at 43 hearings held between 11 November 2013 and 21 February 2014.

The Consent Order grants development consent for the construction and operation of a wastewater transfer and storage tunnel, known as the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a number of connection tunnels and other associated development and ancillary works. It also authorises works at 24 sites in London along the route of the tunnel, including works to construct interception structures at 16 combined sewage overflows, as well as other associated development. It also authorizes Thames to acquire land compulsorily and to use land temporarily, for the purposes of the proposed development.

The consent document states:

“The Secretaries of State have fully considered:

• the Report, including the ExA’s conclusions on the impacts of the proposed development, noting in particular that the ExA’s greatest concerns relate to the construction phase (ER 18.81);
• the local impact reports submitted by 13 London Boroughs and the Mayor of London listed at Annex B to this letter; and
• the environmental information, including the Environmental Statement (ES) dated January 2013 which was submitted with the Application, along with changes and updates to the ES submitted on 14 February 2014 and 11 March 2014.

The Secretaries of State have also taken account of the representations made known to them in respect of the Application and all other matters which they think are both important and relevant to their decision.”

A Government statement described the Tunnel as "one of the country’s leading infrastructure projects which will be built and financed by the private sector."

Commenting on the go-ahead, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:

"London is the largest and most dynamic city in Europe and it needs a modern infrastructure system to support it. In the 21st century, London should not have a river that is polluted by sewage every time there is heavy rainfall.

"As one of the country’s leading infrastructure projects, the Thames Tunnel will modernise the capital’s ageing sewerage system and bring important benefits to people’s health, and wildlife."

The decision to grant consent for this Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) was made under the Planning Act 2008. The Thames Tideway Tunnel is the largest ever NSIP.