ADD2748 Silvertown Tunnel: London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, and Royal Borough of Greenwich – GLA Main and Side Roads

1.1.    Under the GLA Act 1999, the Mayor has a duty to keep under review the GLA Main and GLA Side Roads, which make up the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). The authority to make amendments to the TLRN has been delegated to the Assistant Director of Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Mayoral Decision-Making document (scheme of delegation). 
1.2.    TfL, in consultation with the London boroughs will, from time to time, undertake such a review. Following agreement with officers from the relevant London boroughs, TfL will amend the GLA Designation Orders for GLA Roads and GLA Side Roads, and Special Parking Area Orders, as required, to alter the TLRN expanse.
1.3.    The Silvertown Tunnel was designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project in 2012. A Development Consent Order (DCO) provides the necessary consent for projects classified as nationally significant. TfL applied for a DCO for Silvertown Tunnel in 2016. Following an examination in public, and recommendations from the Planning Inspectorate, the Secretary of State for Transport granted development consent in 2018 by the making of the Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018.
1.4.    All roads under this Assistant Director’s Decision were previously reviewed as part of a consolidation exercise of the GLA Roads and GLA Side Roads, under Mayoral Decision 3052 published on 23 April 2007. (See Appendices C(i) to (iv).) A further review took place as part of the DCO, and was agreed by the Department for Transport.
1.5.    The Head of Network Performance at TfL has confirmed that this request meets all technical, operational and procedural requirements of the highway and/or traffic authority; and that it has been verified for GLA approval.
1.6.    TfL has provided a draft of the amended Orders (see Appendices A(i) to A(iv)): 
•    the GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Newham) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025
•    the GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025
•    the GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Greenwich) Designation Order 2007 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025
•    the GLA Roads (No.3) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025. 
For the listed side roads, traffic authority status will transfer from the boroughs to TfL. This has been agreed with the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, and the Royal Borough of Greenwich as appropriate (see Appendices D(i) to D(iii)). 
 

2.1.    TfL is required to effectively operate the roads covered by the Silvertown Tunnel project as the traffic authority. These variations will enable TfL to operate and maintain the Silvertown Tunnel. This will include improvements to the use and management of Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels, by making TfL the traffic authority for the relevant sections of road.

3.1.    The Mayor and the GLA are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (Equality Act) when exercising their functions. Section 149 requires the Mayor and the GLA (and anyone exercising powers on their behalf) to have due regard to the need to:
•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a “protected characteristic” and people who do not share it by:
o    removing or minimising disadvantages experienced by people because of their protected characteristics
o    meeting the needs of people with protected characteristics
o    encouraging people with protected characteristics to participate in public life
•    foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not.
3.2.    This decision is to make GLA Side Road amendment orders for the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to designate short lengths of road as GLA Side Roads. As the GLA Side Road amendment orders only transfer responsibility, as the traffic authority, from the relevant borough to TfL, it is not considered that there will be any impacts on those people who share protected characteristics.
3.3.    In exercising the statutory power to amend the GLA Designation Orders for GLA Roads and GLA Side Roads, as set out in this decision, the decision-maker (here the Assistant Director of Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity) must have regard to the matters set out in section 149 of the Equality Act. This decision is not expected, of itself, to have any impact on the matters within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty. The London boroughs here listed are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty when exercising functions as highway/traffic authority. 
 

Key risks and issues
4.1.    No key risks or issues have been identified from these amendments.
Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.2.    The Silvertown Tunnel is directly referenced in the current Mayor’s Transport Strategy. Proposal 93 states: 
“The Mayor, through TfL, will continue to support the construction and operation of the Silvertown Tunnel, together with the introduction of user charges on the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels (once the latter is opened), to address the problems of traffic congestion and associated air pollution, frequent closures and consequential delays, and the lack of network resilience and reliability at the Blackwall Crossing.” 
The GLA Side Road amendment orders support the safe and efficient operation of the Silvertown Tunnel.
4.3.    The order is consistent with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
Impact assessment and consultation
4.4.    The boroughs affected by these amendments have approved (see Appendices D(i) to D(iii)). No further consultation is required. 
Conflicts of interest
4.5.    There are no conflicts of interest to note for those involved in drafting or making this decision.
 

5.1.    TfL will take responsibility for funding any works and the ongoing maintenance liabilities associated with becoming the traffic authority for the lengths of road subject to the GLA Side Road amendment orders.
5.2.    There are no costs specifically identified as part of this Assistant Director Decision. All relevant costs are budgeted as part of TfL’s agreed budget, including capital and operational costs. This includes any payments due to the Riverlinx Consortium, who have privately financed the design, construction and operation/maintenance of the Silvertown Tunnel.
 

6.1.    The GLA is empowered, by virtue of section 124B of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to make the proposed GLA Side Roads Designation Variation Order with the consent of the relevant London borough. Such consent has been given.

7.1.    The TfL Traffic Orders team will notify the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets and the Royal Borough of Greenwich of the outcome once the GLA Roads and Side Roads Orders (appendices A(i) to A(iv)) are signed.

•    Appendix A(i) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Newham) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025 for signing
•    Appendix A(ii) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025 for signing 
•    Appendix A(iii) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Greenwich) Designation Order 2007 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025 for signing
•    Appendix A(iv) – The GLA Roads (No.3) Designation Order 2008 (Silvertown Tunnel) Variation Order 2025 for signing
•    Appendix B – Plans to illustrate the extent of the changes
•    Appendix C(i) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Newham) Designation Order 2008
•    Appendix C(ii) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) Designation Order 2008
•    Appendix C(iii) – The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Greenwich) Designation Order 2007
•    Appendix C(iv) – The GLA Roads (No.3) Designation Order 2008
•    Appendix D(i) – London Borough of Newham Signed Declaration
•    Appendix D(ii) – London Borough of Tower Hamlets Signed Declaration
•    Appendix D(iii) – Royal Borough of Greenwich Signed Declaration