Lower Thames Crossing Examination timetable

The examination timetable shows the dates of events and deadlines for submissions.

If you have registered to have your say, you can do this in the examination stage.

The examination stage

The examination opened on 20 June 2023

The examination closed on 20 December 2023

Upcoming deadlines and events

There are no deadlines and events

Past deadlines and events

5 May 2023 - Procedural Deadline A (PDA)

Closed

Procedural Deadline A (PDA)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Requests to be heard orally at the Programming Meeting (via Event Participation Form)
  • Written submissions in advance of the Programming Meeting

16 May 2023 - Programming Meeting

Closed

Programming Meeting

26 May 2023 - Procedural Deadline B (PDB)

Closed

Procedural Deadline B (PDB)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submissions of oral comments made at the Programming Meeting
  • Written submissions on matters raised in the Programming Meeting
  • Written submissions on the Examination procedure and draft timetable
  • Requests to be heard at PM pt1 (via Event Participation Form)
  • Applicant’s proposed Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) itinerary
  • Junction layout plans from the Applicant

6 June 2023 - Preliminary Meeting Part 1 (PM pt1)

Closed

Preliminary Meeting Part 1 (PM pt1)

13 June 2023 - Procedural Deadline C (PDC)

Closed

Procedural Deadline C (PDC)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submissions of oral comments made at PM pt1
  • Further written submissions on Examination procedure, including responses to matters raised orally at PM pt1
  • Requests to be heard orally at the PM pt 2 (via Event Participation Form)
  • Requests to be heard orally at any of the examination hearings notified (via Event Participation Form)
  • Comments by Interested Parties (IPs) on the Applicant’s proposed ASI itinerary

20 June 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1)

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1)

20 June 2023 - Preliminary Meeting Part 2

Closed

Preliminary Meeting Part 2 (PM pt2)

or issue by the ExA of a decision to close the Preliminary Meeting in writing

21 June 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) on Project Definition

22 June 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 2 (ISH2)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 2 (ISH2) on the draft Development Consent Order (dDCO)

28 June 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2)

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2)

5 July 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 3 (OFH3)

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 3 (OFH3)

18 July 2023 - Deadline 1 (D1)

Closed

Deadline 1 (D1)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submission of oral comments made at the hearings held between 20 June and 6 July 2023
  • Comments on Additional Submissions submitted since the Application was accepted.
  • Comments on Relevant Representations
  • Local Impact Reports (LIR) from Local Authorities
  • Written Representations (WR)
  • Summaries of any WRs over 1500 words
  • Applicant's amended proposed ASI itinerary
  • New Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) (and updated SoCGs if required).
  • New and updated Principal Areas of Disagreement Summaries (PADS) (if updated).
  • Applicant’s submission of documents
  • Applicant’s amended dDCO
  • Applicants proposed Addendum to the Environmental Statement (ES)
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Examination Procedure Rules (EPR)

18 July 2023 - Procedural Deadline D (PDD)

Closed

Procedural Deadline D (PDD)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Requests by Statutory Parties to be considered as an Interested Parties (IPs) by the ExA
  • Requests by IPs to be heard at any subsequent OFH
  • Requests by Affected Persons to be heard at a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing (CAH)
  • Requests to attend the ASI

3 August 2023 - Deadline 2 (D2)

Closed

Deadline 2 (D2)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Comments on WRs
  • Comments on LIRs
  • Comments by IPs on the Applicant’s amended proposed ASI itinerary.
  • Comments on Applicant’s amended dDCO
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D1
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D1
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

15 August 2023 - Publication of ExQ1

Closed

Publication by the Examining Authority of:

The Examining Authority’s written questions (ExQ1)

24 August 2023 - Deadline 3 (D3)

Closed

Deadline 3 (D3)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Responses to comments on WRs
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D2
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D2
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

4 September 2023 - Dates reserved for

Closed

w/c 4 and 11 September 2023 reserved for:

  • Open Floor Hearings (OFH) (if required)
  • Issue Specific Hearings (ISH), including but not limited to traffic and transportation, Tunnelling, the draft Development Consent Order
  • Compulsory Acquisition Hearings (CAH). Strategic review of Applicant’s case for Compulsory Acquisition. Individual Compulsory Acquisition objections *ASIs

5 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 3 (ISH3)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 3 (ISH3) on Project Design

6 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4) on Traffic and Transportation

6 September 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 4 (OFH4)

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 4 (OFH4)

7 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) on Tunnelling

8 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 6 (ISH6)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 6 (ISH6) on Mitigation, Compensation and Land Requirements

11 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 7 (ISH7)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 7 (ISH7) on the draft Development Consent Order (dDCO)

12 September 2023 - Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 1

Closed

Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 1

13 September 2023 - Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 2

Closed

Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 2

14 September 2023 - Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 3

Closed

Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) 3

15 September 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1)

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) on The Applicant’s Strategic Case for Compulsory Acquisition & Temporary Possession

15 September 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (CAH2)

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (CAH2) on Individual and Site Specific Objections relating to Compulsory Acquisition & Temporary Possession

19 September 2023 - Deadline 4 (D4)

Closed

Deadline 4 (D4)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submission of oral comments made at the hearings held w/c 4 and 11 Sept 2023 (if held)
  • Responses to ExQ1
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D3
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D3
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

3 October 2023 - Deadline 5 (D5)

Closed

Deadline 5 (D5)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D4
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D4
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

10 October 2023 - Publication by the ExA of

Closed

Opening of Relevant Representations in relation to change requests EC01, EC02 and MRC03 pursuant to Regulation 10 of the CA Regulations (CA Regs RRs)

Publication by the ExA of:

Examining Authority’s further Written Questions (ExQ) (if required)

17 October 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3)

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3)

18 October 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 4 (CAH4)

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 4 (CAH4)

19 October 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 8 (ISH8)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 8 (ISH8) on Construction & Operational Effects (Non traffic)

20 October 2023 - Accompanied Site Inspection 4 (ASI4)

Closed

Accompanied Site Inspection 4 (ASI4)

23 October 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 9 (ISH9)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 9 (ISH9) on Environment & Biodiversity

24 October 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 10 (ISH10)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 10 (ISH10) on Traffic & Transportation

31 October 2023 - Deadline 6 (D6)

Closed

Deadline 6 (D6)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submission of oral comments made at the hearings held 16 to 24 Oct 2023 (if held)
  • Responses to further ExQ (if issued)
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D5
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D5
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

10 November 2023 - Closing of CA Regs RRs

Closed

Closing of CA Regs RRs

CA Regulations Deadline 1 (CA Regs D1)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • CA Regs Written Representations (CA Regs WRs) relating to the effect of the change requests
  • Summaries of any CA Regs WRs over 1500 words
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

14 November 2023 - Publication by ExA of

Closed

Publication by the ExA of:

Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) and any associated questions (if required) ExA’s commentary on, or schedule of changes to, the dDCO (if required) Examining Authority’s further Written Questions (ExQ) (if required)

14 November 2023 - Deadline 6A (D6A)

Closed

Deadline 6A (D6A)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Applicant’s submission of responses to traffic modelling materials submitted at D6 arising from ISH4 or ISH10 and intended to be heard at ISH13 on 27 November 2023
  • Submission of comments by Local Highway Authorities, Ports and other IPs engaged in traffic and transportation topics relating to traffic modelling and intended to be heard at ISH13 on 27 November 2023

17 November 2023 - Deadline 7 (D7)

Closed

Deadline 7 (D7)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Applicant’s submission of draft s106 agreement(s) and any other draft legal agreements
  • Comments on responses to further ExQ (if applicable)
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D6
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D6
  • Requests from a CA Regulations Interested Party to be heard at: An Open Floor Hearing held under Regulation 16 of the CA Regs (OFH/CA Regs). An Issue Specific Hearing held under Regulation 14 of the CA Regs (ISH/CA Regs). A Compulsory Acquisition Hearing held under Regulation 15 of the CA Regs (CAH/CA Regs) (if required)
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

21 November 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 5 (CAH5)

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 5 (CAH5)

22 November 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 11 (ISH11)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 11 (ISH11) on Environmental Matters

23 November 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 12 (ISH12)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 12 (ISH12) on Social, Economic and/or Project Delivery Matters (including Control Documents and Agreements)

23 November 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 5 (OFH5)

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 5 (OFH5)

24 November 2023 - Accompanied Site Inspection 5 (ASI5)

Closed

Accompanied Site Inspection 5 (ASI5)

27 November 2023 - CA Regulations Deadline 2 (CA Regs D2)

Closed

CA Regulations Deadline 2 (CA Regs D2)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Comments on CA Regs WRs
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

27 November 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 13 (ISH13)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 13 (ISH13) on Traffic and Transportation

28 November 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 14 (ISH14)

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 14 (ISH14) on The draft DCO

5 December 2023 - Deadline 8 (D8)

Closed

Deadline 8 (D8)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Post-event submissions, including written submission of oral comments made at the hearings held 20 to 28 Nov 2023 (if held)
  • Comments on RIES (if issued)
  • Comments on ExA’s DCO/Commentary (if issued)
  • Responses to further ExQ (if issued)
  • Applicant’s submission of updated s106 agreement(s) and any other updated legal agreements
  • Updated SoCGs (if updated)
  • Updated PADSs (if updated)
  • Applicant’s submission of documents requested
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D7
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D7 or CA Regs D2
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

11 December 2023 - Deadline 9 (D9)

Closed

Deadline 9 (D9)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Comments on responses to further ExQ (if applicable)
  • Applicant’s final documents: dDCO, with Statutory Instrument validation report. draft Control Documents. Book of Reference (BoR) and schedule of changes. Statement of Commonality. Status of Negotiations/Compulsory Acquisition schedule. Status of Negotiations with Statutory Undertakers. National Policy Statement (NPS) tracker. Final signed and dated s106 agreement(s) or any other final legal agreements. Stakeholder Actions and Commitments Register (SAC-R). Consents Position Statement. Errata, if applicable
  • Comments on Applicant’s submissions at D8
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D8
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

15 December 2023 - Deadline 9A (D9A)

Closed

Deadline 9A (D9A)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Comments on the final documents submitted by the Applicant at D9
  • Final SoCGs
  • Final PADSs
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the EPR

20 December 2023 - Deadline 10 (D10)

Closed

Deadline 10 (D10)

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D9 not requested at D9A
  • Comments on any information requested by the ExA and received by D9A
  • Closing submissions from the Applicant
  • Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Examination Rules

20 December 2023 - Close of Examination

Closed

The Examining Authority is under a duty to complete the examination of the application by the end of the period of six months