A DELAY in approving a major road tunnel linking south Essex and Kent has seen the Tory Government branded “dilly, dally, can’t” at Westminster.

Ministers faced accusations of "incompetence" in Parliament over the hold-up to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, which has been on the drawing board since 2009 and has already cost more than £800 million.

The bridge is aimed at easing congestion on the Dartford Crossing and double road capacity across the Thames.

There have also been calls for a review of the planning system, as the House of Lords heard the application for the project ran to more than 359,000 pages of requirements.

Tackling the Government over the progress of the development, Tory peer Lord Colgrain said: “The largest bored tunnel in Europe is now ready for commissioning, with contractors poised and with approval from all seven Kent and Essex MPs whose constituencies are affected.

“Can the minister tell the House why there is even a possibility that this project, which is forecast to make a £40 billion contribution to GDP over the next 60 years, could not receive its long-awaited consent order?”

Responding, transport minister Lord Davies of Gower said: “By its nature, it is very complex and requires years of planning, consultation and analysis before it is ready to move into the delivery phrase. It is important that the Government plan projects properly, are open about the challenges and natural uncertainty of delivering a project of the size and scale of the Lower Thames crossing.”

Liberal Democrat Lord Stoneham of Droxford said: “Does this issue reflect the general incompetence of the Government in dealing with large infrastructure projects, or is it due to the fact that over the last 14 years, skills shortages in the construction industry have been underestimated and not dealt with by the Government?”

Lord Davies said: “This is a very complex issue. It takes time. It requires years of planning, consultation and analysis – it is as simple as that. Further than that, I cannot comment.”

Labour frontbencher Lord Liddle said: “Is this not a classic case of how the planning system in Britain is fundamentally broken? How can it make sense to have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on a project when the Government have not actually given the final go-ahead?”