Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the review’s launch on Saturday, which will assess options to improve transport infrastructure across all four nations of the UK.

The possibility of creating a fixed crossing to Northern Ireland from Scotland was first mooted almost three years ago by architect Professor Alan Dunlop and has since been promoted by the Prime Minister.

Welcoming news that the Union Connectivity Review will explore the cost, practicality and demand for such a connection, Professor Dunlop said: “The potential of this as a project I think is very positive.”

Professor Dunlop originally drew up two options for the link: one from Portpatrick near Stanraer to Larne near Bangor and another between the Mull of Kintyre and Torr Head on the Antrim coast.

He said the scheme should be feasible from an engineering perspective, pointing to global precedents including Norway’s coastal highway project which is currently under construction and includes a combination of tunnels and floating bridges.

“The idea of a bridge that has to be physically connected to the sea bed is no longer an imperative as far as designing a bridge is concerned,” he said. This could help to overcome the challenge of crossing a deep trench in the Irish Sea known as Beaufort’s Dyke.

He added that, with the high cost of ferry services linking Northern Ireland to Scotland, “there is an economic argument to be made to this which would encourage the idea of a feasibility study”.

Further ideas on the table for Sir Peter Hendy’s review include cutting railway journey times to North Wales, boosting road and rail links to Scotland, reviewing air links within the UK and improving major road links across the country, such as the A1.

Interim findings are expected to be reported to the Prime Minister, Transport Secretary and Chancellor in January ahead of final recommendations next summer. The review will also consider the role of future technologies and assess the environmental impacts of current and planned infrastructure.

Boris Johnson said: “Quality transport links are the key to making sure everyone can access education, jobs and housing, helping businesses to grow and thrive and rebalancing opportunity fairly across our country.

“Sir Peter’s review will help make sure we have the right connections to support, sustain and strengthen our communities – to truly level up across the UK.”

(Photograph: Network Rail)