Truck stops upgraded with £16.5m investment
Industry and Government are jointly investing GBP16.5 million to improve 38 truck stop rest areas across England. The Department for Transport (DfT) will invest GBP6m with GBP10.5m coming from industry, to significantly improve their facilities for lorry drivers. Lorry drivers will benefit from more parking spaces, better welfare facilities and safer rest areas, says the DfT.
The upgrades will include new showers and restaurants, as well as better lighting and secure fencing. The measures will also create around 430 new parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to free up local roads. Roads minister, Guy Opperman, said: "Our lorry drivers are the backbone of a successful economy, ensuring food, goods and crucial medical supplies can get where they need to be, all over the country.
"That's why it's only right we leave no stone unturned when it comes to supporting our lorry drivers as part of our plan to grow the economy, and today's GBP16.5m in joint government and industry funding will provide them with the safe, spacious and modern facilities they deserve." New charge points to power electric HGVs and solar panels on lorry driver facilities to make them as sustainable as possible will also be installed. The measures follow GBP15m in joint government and industry funding for similar improvements announced in September last year as part of the fund's first application window.
This, says the DfT, takes the total joint investment from the department and the sector to improve lorry roadside facilities to up to GBP31m. Declan Pang, director of policy and public affairs at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: "We are delighted to see the Government's match funded grant scheme being awarded to projects which will make a tangible difference to the experiences of lorry drivers and provide much needed additional parking capacity to address the well-known shortage of spaces. "We are pleased to see facilities operators contribute funding and commit to improving security and conditions at the sites they operate.
"We look forward to seeing the positive impact the funding will have across the range of projects." Hartlepool-based Ron Perry and Son is investing more than GBP2m in a HGV parking facility to address the critical shortage of overnight parking spaces for HGVs using the A19, with DfT providing match-funding. Ron Perry, managing director of Ron Perry and Son, said: "Our commitment to this project is twofold: addressing immediate shortages and laying the groundwork for future growth.
"By enhancing security, adding capacity, and prioritising driver welfare, we're setting new standards in the industry. Our strategic location near regional economic centres underscores our role in supporting regional transport and haulage networks. "We're thrilled about this investment that will enable us to support major developments around Teesworks, the Freeport, and the new Amazon warehouse in Wynyard.
Our expanded HGV parking facilities will play a crucial role in supporting these economic hubs.
"With the growing demand for logistics services, it's essential to address the shortage of secure overnight parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles."
Construction is set to commence on its Northbound and Southbound sites in late 2024 and will be operational in Spring 2025.
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