Downing Street has 'no specific plans' to build Boris Johnson's proposed Channel Bridge

Downing Street has said there are “no specific plans” to build an English Channel bridge, according to reports.

The Foreign Secretary allegedly proposed to build a “fixed link” between Britain and France to French president Emmanuel Macron at a summit on Thursday.

But Downing Street has instead said that Mr Johnson was referencing a panel looking at Anglo-French major projects, the BBC reported.

Boris Johnson previously hinted at the prospect of Britain and France building a bridge over the English Channel.

Mr Johnson reportedly said "good connections" were important and that it was ridiculous that two of the world's biggest economies were only linked by a single railway.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister told the BBC: "I haven't seen any plans on that. We are going to have very close ties with France economically, culturally and in areas such as defence and security for many many decades to come.

He added that a panel of experts will look at major projects including "infrastructure".

Mr Johnson tweeted earlier this week: “So much important work in #UKFRSummit outcomes, but I’m especially pleased we are establishing a panel of experts to look at major projects together. Our economic success depends on good infrastructure and good connections. Should the Channel Tunnel be just a first step?”

Experts said that building a bridge between the two nations would be possible but could cost up to £120 billion.

However, practical issues such as the weather, shipping and the financial implications stand in the way of Mr Johnson’s bridge becoming a reality.

It is thought that a bridge could be challenging for vessels crossing one of the busiest shipping channels in the world, sometimes with limited visibility.

Dr Kostas Tsavdaridis, associate professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Leeds, said that he would use the bridge "but only on the good days of the year", as conditions could be harsh.

He said any seismic action in the area would not have a significant effect on the structure, and it was being mooted for the narrowest and shallowest stretch of the channel.

At 20-plus miles, it would be one of the longest bridges, but "it has been done in the past", he said.

Trade body the UK Chamber of Shipping said in a tweet: "Building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world's busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges."

The world's longest bridge is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, which spans just over 100 miles.