Active Announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026. 17 events
Threads / Highways (Financing) Bill / Timeline
Lifecycle stage Implementation
57 days in stage

Highways (Financing) Bill

The King's Speech 2026 bill to enable major road schemes, including the Lower Thames Crossing, to be financed and built at pace.

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13 May 2026 | Policy paper British Transport Police Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee Department for Transport Network Rail Office of Rail and Road Regulatory Policy Committee Transport Committee Transport Focus Context · primary home: Tackling State Threats Bill linked direct

The King's Speech 2026 – Background Briefing Notes (PDF)

Why linked: King's Speech 2026 Background Briefing Notes explicitly names the Highways (Financing) Bill as a legislative programme item. This is the authoritative source document for the bill's introduction.

The full PDF of the King's Speech 2026 background briefing notes from the Prime Minister's Office, containing dedicated section on the Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill (p.75) setting out the rationale for establishing Great British Railways.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 May 2026 | Policy paper Department for Transport linked commitment

King's Speech announces Highways (Financing) Bill

Why linked: The King's Speech 2026 and official briefing notes announce the Highways (Financing) Bill as part of the government's legislative programme.

The King's Speech 2026 bill to enable major road schemes, including the Lower Thames Crossing, to be financed and built at pace.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ The King's Speech 2026: background briefing not… (129pp)
26 Mar 2026 | Policy paper Department for Transport evidence

Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031

Why linked: Filled the "Government spending reviews or fiscal frameworks that allocate capital to highways" gap via web research

Our 5 year strategy for investment in and management of the strategic road network from April 2026 to March 2031.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 (92pp)
+6 more
↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 introduction ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 interactive… ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 BSL summary ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 (print vers… (88pp) ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 (print cove… (2pp) ↓ Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3): 2026 to 2031 (large prin… (140pp)
19 Mar 2026 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026. Potential procedural or streamlining measure affecting development consent processes.

This Order amends the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (“the GPDO”). The GPDO grants planning permission for certain classes of development without the requirement for a planning application to be made under Part 3 of …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
5 Nov 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Amendment) Order 2025

Why linked: Amendment Order to the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order 2025. Updates to the primary statutory mechanism for the flagship project.

This Order amends the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/462) (“the 2025 Order”), a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008 (“the Act”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
5 Nov 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025

Why linked: Second Amendment Order to the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order 2025. Further updates to the statutory delivery framework.

This Order amends the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/462) (“the 2025 Order”), a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008 (“the Act”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Sep 2025 | Guidance Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government linked direct

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Why linked: Government explainer for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the parallel reform vehicle into which the Highways (Financing) Bill's delivery-acceleration logic dovetails.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is the next step to fix the foundations of our economy and rebuild Britain. This page sets out key information on the Bill.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Guide to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
+11 more
↓ Factsheet: Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Compulsory pur… ↓ Factsheet: Nature Restoration Fund ↓ Factsheet: Critical infrastructure reforms ↓ Factsheet: Planning committees ↓ Factsheet: Local fee setting ↓ Factsheet: Bill discounts for transmission network infrastr… ↓ Factsheet: Strategic planning ↓ European Convention on Human Rights Memorandum ↓ Nature Restoration Fund Government Amendments: Letter from … (1pp) ↓ Nature Restoration Fund Government Amendments: Letter from … (2pp) ↓ Summary: Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Government Amend…
11 Sep 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent (Correction) Order 2025

Why linked: Correction Order to the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order 2025. Maintains accuracy of the statutory instrument establishing delivery powers.

This Order corrects errors and omissions in the A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/462), a development consent order under the Planning Act 2008, following two requests under paragraph 1(6)(a) of Schedule 4 to that Act.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
21 May 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) (England) Order 2025

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) Order 2025. Procedural instrument supporting accelerated planning/environmental assessment for designated projects, within scope of legal mechanisms.

Sections 293B and 293C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) (as inserted by section 109 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55)) provide a route for applications for planning permission for Crown development in …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
21 May 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) (England) Order 2025

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) Order 2025 (duplicate reference). Procedural streamlining for crown development applications relevant to project acceleration.

Sections 293B and 293C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) (as inserted by section 109 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55)) provide a route for applications for planning permission for Crown development in …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
7 Apr 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025

Why linked: The A122 (Lower Thames Crossing) Development Consent Order 2025 is the statutory instrument authorizing the flagship project named in the thread scope. Direct legal mechanism for the crossing.

This Order authorises National Highways to undertake the works to construct the Lower Thames Crossing, near Thurrock and Gravesend under the River Thames and carry out all associated works.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
3 Apr 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Procedure and Written Representations) Order 2025

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Procedure and Written Representations) Order 2025. Procedural framework supporting accelerated delivery mechanisms for designated infrastructure.

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Procedure and Written Representations) Order 2025 (“the Order”) sets out the procedure to be followed where a Crown development application for planning permission or approval of reserved matters or a connected listed …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
3 Apr 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Hearings and Inquiries) Rules 2025

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Hearings and Inquiries) Rules 2025. Procedural rules enabling streamlined environmental and planning assessment for crown development.

These rules govern the procedure for hearings and inquiries held before the determination of a Crown development application, that is, an application which has been made in accordance with sections 293D and 293E of the Town and Country Planning Act …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
3 Apr 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked direct

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Hearings and Inquiries) Rules 2025

Why linked: Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Hearings and Inquiries) Rules 2025 (duplicate reference). Procedural acceleration measures within scope.

These rules govern the procedure for hearings and inquiries held before the determination of a Crown development application, that is, an application which has been made in accordance with sections 293D and 293E of the Town and Country Planning Act …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Apr 2017 | Consultation outcome Highways England linked direct

Lower Thames Crossing: route options

Why linked: DfT consultation outcome on Lower Thames Crossing route options (2017). Historical/foundational material showing precursor to the Bill.

Proposals for a new road crossing across the Thames connecting Kent and Essex.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK