National Highways’ Lower Thames Crossing has revealed a new target to reduce its construction carbon emissions by 70%.
The ambition has been made possible due to the project’s delivery partners and suppliers committing to making it the greenest road ever built in the UK, it claims.
The improved new target has been published in the project’s second annual sustainability report, which details the legacy the project aims to leave for the local community, environment, and the UK’s construction industry.
The project is a carbon pathfinder project that is aiming to set new standards for building infrastructure by pioneering and scaling up approaches to low-carbon construction.
By working closely with its three Delivery Partners and supply chain the project has halved its predicted construction carbon footprint, and it became the first major project in the UK to make it a legally binding limit when it submitted it in its application for Development Consent in October 2022.
The project has now identified ways to potentially reduce that footprint further, and has set itself an ambitious new target of less than 840,000 tonnes in total – a cut of around 70% against its original prediction.
This would be achieved by taking a “forensic approach” to reducing carbon as the design of the new road is refined, and committing to only using low-carbon steel and concrete.
It also includes removing all diesel from its construction sites by 2027, by accelerating the large-scale use of electric vehicles and plant, and using hydrogen to power its heavy construction machinery.
Katharina Ferguson, Supply Chain Development Director, Lower Thames Crossing said:
“The Lower Thames Crossing will not only tackle congestion and unlock economic growth in the UK, with our partners and suppliers we will create a new blueprint for how we build low-carbon infrastructure and leave a legacy of jobs, skills and green spaces for the local community. With millions invested in local projects and a new community woodland at Hole Farm on track to open next year, we’re already making a difference, well before work on the new road gets underway.
“The plans to make the Lower Thames Crossing the greenest road ever built in the UK include building a tunnel rather than a bridge to avoid protected wetlands and marshes, and seven green bridges that would provide safe crossing points for people and wildlife. The project is planting at least 1 million additional trees, creating a new community woodland at Hole Farm and new public parks in Thurrock and Gravesham. The project will also promote active travel by creating or improving almost 40 miles of pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, 3 miles of path for every mile of road.”
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