Why DfI Civil Service Blocks Consideration of the Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC)

Briefing for MLAs and Councillors – October 2025

Summary

Despite public, economic and safety arguments in favour of a fixed link across Strangford Lough, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) civil service continues to block even a basic feasibility study. The position has remained unchanged through several ministers, suggesting the barrier is institutional, not political.

—1. Institutional Risk-Aversion

DfI officials refuse to initiate new studies unless already listed in departmental plans. Because SLC is not in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Plan, officials claim there is “no strategic priority” – a circular defence used to avoid admitting that existing policy may be outdated.

—2. Protection of the Ferry Division

The Portaferry–Strangford ferry is a DfI-run operation employing staff and consuming tens of millions in subsidies.Acknowledging that a bridge could replace it would expose long-term losses of £70 m+. Maintaining the ferry therefore suits internal budgets and avoids scrutiny.

—3. Absence of Ministerial Direction

When Stormont is suspended or ministers are passive, civil servants default to status quo. Officials state that proceeding “would not be appropriate without ministerial direction”, effectively parking the issue until a direct political order arrives.

—4. Misuse of Economic Criteria

DfI has inverted the Treasury Green Book test – claiming the project lacks economic justification before any feasibility work is done.Internal estimates inflate bridge costs by up to 8.6× real benchmarks and omit ferry losses, journey-time savings and toll potential – producing a false negative result.

—5. Fear of Regional Equity Debate

A Strangford link would expose the chronic under-investment in the Ards Peninsula and South-East Down compared with the Belfast-Lisburn corridor. Avoiding this comparison shields the Department from questions on sub-regional balance and public-interest equity.

—Conclusion

The refusal to study SLC is not about cost or environment – it is about institutional self-protection inside DfI.

Civil servants have no democratic mandate to block public-interest infrastructure. A short, independent feasibility study would finally allow facts – not internal bias – to decide.