Government lifts ban on developing land reserved for bridge project axed in 2008
The bridge would have connected Newham to Greenwich, but was scrapped by then-London mayor Boris Johnson in 2008, who said the capital should focus on 'projects that deliver real benefits for Londoners'.
Safeguarding is used to stop land from being developed in a way that would conflict with future schemes.
In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Lightwood wrote that the safeguarding direction for the Thames Gateway Bridge dated back to 1940, when 'the area's transport needs were very different'.
He went on: 'Since then, London's transport priorities have evolved, and over the decades we have seen major investments in London's river crossings – most notably the Dartford Crossing, and recently, the Silvertown Tunnel.
'The safeguarding directions therefore no longer align with the direction of transport policy or the evolving needs of this part of London.
'The continued safeguarding of this land has been an obstacle to much-needed development, and I am therefore lifting these directions.
'The Government is keen to deliver new homes and unlock economic opportunity, and we are taking steps to remove unnecessary barriers to progress.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Nigel Farage is currently the only senior politician who is seen to be actually speaking for Britain - and doing so in a voice voters recognise: DAN HODGES
Nigel Farage isn't ready to be Prime Minister. And I know that not because of the complaints of his enemies, but what I hear from his closest allies. 'Nigel recognises we're not in a position to run the country yet', one told me recently.
Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Benefits law change for miscarriage of justice victims comes into force
New rules will prevent wrongly convicted people being pushed over the savings limit for means-tested support because of the amount they received in payouts. Until now, compensation for miscarriage of justice sometimes dragged people above the threshold for claiming certain welfare payments. Under a legislative change taking effect from Tuesday, these payouts will now be exempted when assessing eligibility for: income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, housing benefit, pension credit and universal credit. Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms MP said the move was part of wider Government action aimed at 'rebuilding trust in our systems', which he said 'begins by restoring trust with those the system has failed'. 'We can't return the years lost by miscarriage of justice victims — but we can, and must, ensure they have every opportunity to restart their lives so they can make the most of the years ahead,' he said. He encouraged anyone who has received miscarriage of justice compensation to 'come forward, so we can ensure they receive the help they are entitled to'. The law change comes after campaigners including Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly convicted of rape, called for greater access to support for those like him whose names have been cleared. Andrew Malkinson has said he is 'intensely relieved' by the rule change but that further reform is needed (PA) Mr Malkinson, who was the victim of one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history, has said while the new rule 'ends a stark injustice', further reforms are needed. Speaking earlier this month, he said he was 'intensely relieved' by the law change but would continue calling on the Government to lift the cap on legal compensation payments. The Ministry of Justice is to raise the amount paid to people wrongly jailed for more than a decade to £1.3 million, but Mr Malkinson has described the proposed increase as 'insulting'. He has also spoken out against rules under which payouts are only awarded to people who can prove innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. 'I remain determined to challenge the completely unfair cap on compensation for the wrongfully convicted – and the ridiculous requirement that a person in my position be required to prove their innocence a second time to get compensated,' he said.
Times
24 minutes ago
- Times
British Business Bank back in black with £144 million profit
Britain's state economic development agency has returned to profit, and its investment portfolio grew by almost a fifth, as it prepares for a beefed-up role after recent government changes. The British Business Bank, established in 2014 to improve the flow of finance to private companies, generated a pre-tax profit of £144 million in its last financial year — after two consecutive years of losses, including a £131 million loss in the 12 months to March 2024 — boosted by the performance of its investments. The bank provides wholesale finance to equity and debt providers but can also invest up to £60 million directly in individual companies. • British Business Bank marks tenth anniversary of doing deals After the government's recent five-year spending review and industrial strategy, the agency's role has been significantly increased. The government committed £6.6 billion of new capital to the British Business Bank in June, taking its financial capacity to £25.6 billion. Ministers are seeking to stimulate investment in promising UK companies to help drive economic growth and productivity and enable companies to scale up at home rather than overseas, particularly in the US. The annual report for the bank, which has its headquarters in Sheffield, shows that its investment portfolio has increased in value by 19 per cent to £4.7 billion. It supported a total of £6.8 billion of finance for smaller businesses, made up of £1.2 billion deployed by the agency, £2.6 billion of lending guaranteed and £3 billion of private sector capital that it 'crowded in'. As a result, it said, 24,000 businesses that haven't previously been supported by the bank received funding, plus 4,000 that have previously benefited. Louis Taylor, chief executive of the British Business Bank and a former boss of UK Export Finance, the government's export credit agency, said its activities from the last year were forecast to create 38,000 extra jobs and £8 billion of gross value added 'over the life of the finance'. Taylor, 58, whose total pay was £460,800, added: 'We have undertaken a significant reshaping of our organisation to prepare for an expanded mandate and long-term ambitions. Having an economic development bank with permanent capital and a consistent risk appetite, underpinning the UK venture and growth market through its cycles, is a powerful and very positive development.' Despite the market volatility generated by President Trump's tariffs war, the agency said it did not expect 'any direct impact' on its investment portfolio given its UK focus and it not being concentrated in sectors most exposed to US tariffs. • Keir Starmer unveils 'targeted, long-term' industrial strategy The bank's expanded role includes the British Growth Partnership, an investment vehicle seeking to raise hundreds of millions of pounds from UK pension funds and other institutions to back British venture capital. For the first time, it will be managing capital on behalf of pension funds together with other institutional investors. Aegon UK, NatWest Cushon and London CIV, a grouping of local government pension schemes, have expressed interest in working with it.
