HIGHWAYS England have announced they have withdrawn their application for a Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing – though it is expected they will resubmit an amended application.

The news comes on the day it was expected that the government would give a decision on the huge project which would link the M2 in Kent with the M25 via a tunnel under the Thames and driving a carriageway of roads and junctions through the green heart of Thurrock.

The plan has been hugely controversial and has been opposed by Thurrock Council and many local campaigners.

Nevertheless Highways England ploughed ahead with its plans, mounting a lengthy consultation with local residents, businesses and the council before preparing its application for a Development Consent Order.

It appeared confident it would get the green light and only last week announced that it had put out a tender contract for bidders who wanted to build the tunnel.

However, it appears that the reception from the government and planning inspectorate to what it proposed was somewhat frosty and so this afternoon, instead of getting out the Champagne, the agency issued the following statement: "We've withdrawn the Development Consent Order application for the Lower Thames Crossing based on early feedback we've had from the Planning Inspectorate.

"We will take time to collate the information required for the specific points raised and will be resubmitting the application early in the new year."

Preparation for submission of the Development Consent Order, effectively the green light to the scheme from the government, began in 2013.

Submitting its application the agency said it was based on the feedback it received from, the public – though many campaigners have said their views have gone unrepresented and there are serious flaws with the planned route.

That's despite Highways England saying: "We have been in public engagement for almost 300 days, with almost 90,000 of you giving us your views. We have used your feedback, along with the results of ongoing engagement with a huge range of stakeholders, as well the findings of our ongoing surveys and investigations, to shape the design of the project."

The news was greeted by Thurrock's Lower Thames Task Force chairman Cllr Fraser Massey with a short statement. He says: "This is a small victory in a longer process, they will be back.