# The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025, Introduction: Introductory text

Extent: E+W

Infrastructure Planning
Made 25th March 2025
Coming into force 15th April 2025
An application has been made to the Secretary of State, under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”) in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 for an Order granting development consent.
The application was examined by a Panel of five members (“the Panel”) in accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 6 of the 2008 Act, and the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.
The Panel, having examined the application with the documents that accompanies the application, and considered the representations made and not withdrawn, in accordance with section 74(2) of the 2008 Act, has submitted a report and recommendation to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State, having considered the representations made and not withdrawn, and the report of the Panel, has decided to make an Order granting development consent for the development described in the application with modifications which in the opinion of the Secretary of State do not make any substantial changes to the proposals comprised in the application.
The Secretary of State is satisfied that replacement land (as defined in article 40(8) (special category land) of this Order) has been or will be given in exchange for parcels of common land and open space (both terms as defined in section 19(4) of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981) comprised within the Order land, and the replacement land has been or will be vested in the prospective seller and subject to the same rights, trusts and incidents as attach to that common land and open space, and that, accordingly, sections 131(4) and 132(4) of the 2008 Act apply.
The Secretary of State is satisfied that parcels of open space comprised within the Order land are required for the drainage of an existing highway and that the giving in exchange of other land is unnecessary, whether in the interests of the persons, if any, entitled to rights of common or other rights or in the interests of the public, and accordingly, section 131(5) of the 2008 Act applies.
In accordance with section 132(3) of the 2008 Act, the Secretary of State is satisfied, having considered the report and recommendation of the Panel, that the parcels of open space and common land comprised within the Order land, when burdened with a new right created under this Order, will be no less advantageous than they were before the making of this Order to the following persons: (a) the persons in whom they are vested; (b) other persons, if any, entitled to rights of common or other rights; and (c) the public.
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 114, 115, 117, 120, 122, 123, 127, 131, 135, 138, 143, 147 and 150 of, and paragraphs 1 to 4, 10 to 23, 26, 30A, 30B, 32A to 33, 36 and 37 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to, the 2008 Act, makes the following Order—

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/462/introduction (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/a122-lower-thames-crossing-development-consent-order-2025/introduction
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.