Unsuccessful bidder challenges TfL over award of contract for proposed Silvertown Tunnel

The reserve bidder for the design, build, finance and maintain contract for the proposed Silvertown Tunnel has launched a legal challenge to the procurement process undertaken by Transport for London.

The award of the contract has been automatically suspended following the launch of proceedings by STC.

TfL intended to award the contract to Riverlinx later this summer.

The Silvertown Tunnel is a new twin-bore road tunnel under the Thames in east London that will link the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown. It is expected to open from 2025.

A TfL spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that our reserve bidder, STC, has decided to challenge the outcome of our procurement process for the design, build, finance and maintain contract for the Silvertown Tunnel.  We are awaiting further details about the claim and will respond to them in due course.”

They added that TfL would be looking to "award the contract and begin construction on this vitally important project for London as soon as possible".