Update: The Warrington Inland Border Facility closed permanently to all customers on 13 November 2022. Traffic should now use the Sevington or Holyhead sites.
Overview
This page provides an opportunity for interested individuals and organisations to view information about the Warrington Inland Border Facility.
The site acts as a location for starting and ending transit movements of goods from the UK. The site includes parking areas for HGVs and other vehicles as well as security measures and facilities to enable the checking of vehicles and goods entering and exiting the site.
The submission relating to the Government’s proposals for the Warrington Inland Border Facility was approved by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in November 2020. As such, the site at Warrington is in use as an inland border facility as of 1 January 2021 for 24 months.
The decision notice relating to MHCLG’s approval of the SDO application is available to view here.
The temporary approval for the use of the site as an inland border facility came to an end on 31 December 2022. Operations have ceased and the site handed back to the landlord following reinstatement works, in accordance with an approved reinstatement plan. Please see the link here.
Contact us
If you have a specific concern, please contact us using the email below:
Community updates
News and updates for the local community regarding the Warrington Inland Border Facility are available to view below.
19 January 2021
An Operational Management Plan (OMP) for the site has been approved by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).
You can view a non-technical summary of the OMP here.
23rd October 2020
We wanted to let you know that we will be carrying out some minor enabling works at the site which do not require planning permission.
You may see some site set up works starting from 26 October, with construction works starting from 2 November 2020.
These preparations are important to ensure that the site can be ready for the 1st of January 2021 to help support readiness for the end of the transition period.
Inland border facilities form an essential part of our preparations to manage any potential disruption and ensure the free flow of goods in and out of the UK.
All works will be carefully carried out to minimise any potential impacts on local residents.
Construction and Operations
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the operation of the Warrington Inland Border Facility via its site contractor.
The site is a 24-hour seven day a week operation and involves staff based at the facility to manage this. The workforce includes full trained security staff who regularly patrol the site and incident management staff. Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are positioned across the site and cover entrances to buildings.
After entering the site, HGVs stop at the Vehicle Entry Check Point before being directed to a vacant HGV space. From there, the HGVs are processed as necessary. During processing, no HGV drivers are allowed to leave the site. Once processing has been completed, the HGVs leave the site to continue their journeys. Most HGVs will not be on the site for more than 2 hours.
An Operational Management Plan (OMP) has been developed for the inland border facility. The OMP explains the tasks involved in safely managing and operating the site in a manner to reduce the potential for any adverse impacts on site or locally. It provides a framework of guidance to all site users and describes in detail the arrangements for delivering the intended services. A non-technical summary of the OMP is available to view here
A Construction Management Plan (CMP) has been developed for the inland border facility. The CMP explains how construction works will be managed. It also ensures that possible impacts that may arise from the works have been appropriately identified and mitigated. The CMP for the inland border facility will be published on this page shortly.
Inland border facility location
This site is located off Barleycastle Lane and Grappenhall Lane, in Appleton Thorn, Warrington. It is within a cluster of commercial units just over a mile from junction 20 Lymm Interchange of the M6, which is approximately 2 miles from the M56.
To access the site from the M6, hauliers exit at junction 20, and travel along the A50 Cliff Lane before exiting onto the B5356 Grappenhall Lane.
HGVs travelling from the Port of Holyhead travel along the A55 to junction 34, A494 and the M56 to junction 9, linking with the M6 junction 20 dumbbell roundabout. From here, it is a short distance on the A50 and B5356 Grappenhall Lane to access the site. HGVs travelling in the opposite direction use the same route in reverse.
The site has a single entrance for heavy good vehicles (HGVs) located on an unnamed site access road within a small industrial estate opposite the B5356 Grappenhall Lane, Barleycastle Lane junction.
The capacity at the Warrington site is 69 HGV parking spaces and 71 car parking spaces for staff.
Traffic flow and access
Directing vehicles to the inland border facility
HGVs accessing the site travel via the M6.
HGVs exit the M6 at junction 20, travelling along the A50 Cliff Lane and exiting onto the B5356 Grappenhall Lane.
HGVs travelling from the Port of Holyhead travel along the A55 to junction 34, A494 and the M56 to junction 9, linking with the M6 junction 20 dumbbell roundabout. From here, it is a short distance on the A50 and B5356 Grappenhall Lane to access the site. HGVs travelling in the opposite direction use the same route in reverse.
HGVs should not exit the M56 J10 and avoid using the B5356 Stretton Road through Appleton Thorn where existing weight restrictions are being enforced
Prominent road signage
There is prominent road signage to direct HGV drivers to the inland border facility via the M6 junction 20 on both the strategic and local road networks.
There is also signage outside the site entrance to advise hauliers about the use of site facilities and providing site contact details.
Entry and exit points at the site
Traffic asccesses and leaves the site via the existing site access point on an unnamed road off the B5356 Grappenhall Lane, travelling along the B5356 (Grappenhall Lane) and A50 Cliff Lane towards junction 20 of the M6. This is already an established HGV route for vehicles serving businesses based along Barleycastle Lane and the Appleton Thorn Trading Estate.
Information for hauliers
Information for hauliers attending the Warrington Inland Border Facility is available to view here
Access & vehicle movement plan
Environment
As part of the proposals for the inland border facility, relevant bodies including the Environment Agency, Natural England and Historic England were engaged with. The inland border facility is temporary and designed to ensure no significant or long-term environmental effects. Effects are being mitigated and managed through the Operational Management Plan. In particular the Monitoring Plan, Biodiversity Strategy and Site Pollution Prevention Plan.
As part of the SDO approval, a study of the likely environmental effects has been produced. This study has considered air quality, cultural heritage, landscape and visual effects, biodiversity, road drainage and water. Noise monitoring is currently being carried out to allow the noise levels generated by the site to be monitored and mitigated if necessary. The study has also considered geology and soils, material assets and waste, population and health, and climate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the role of the inland border facility?
The site acts as an office for starting and ending transit movements of goods to and from the UK, for vehicles travelling via the Port of Holyhead. Checking of goods also takes place. The inland border facility includes parking areas for HGVs and other vehicles, as well as security measures and facilities to enable the checking of vehicles entering and exiting the sites.
There are also temporary office buildings, staff and driver welfare amenities.
Why this location?
The site was previously in use as a coach interchange for holiday company Shearings and is located on an established HGV route for vehicles serving businesses based along Barleycastle Lane and the Appleton Thorn Trading Estate. The site is in close proximity to the M6/ M56 motorways, both major HGV routes, and allows access to the regional motorway network connecting to the Port of Holyhead.
Will the operation of the site impact local communities?
The operation of the IBF should not have an impact on local communities as our assessments show that the impact on the local road network is minimal.
As part of the approval process for the IBF we have agreed a number of measures to monitor and mitigate potential operational impacts with the Local Highways Authority and Highways England.
These measures include the installation of CCTV cameras along Barleycastle Lane to monitor the number of vehicles accessing the site and funding for measures to deter hauliers from travelling through Appleton Thorn.
A Traffic Working Group has been established to monitor traffic associated with the site and the need for any additional mitigation measures.
Noise and air quality is also being monitored to ensure that there are no adverse effects on the local community.
What is the capacity of the site?
The site has parking space for up to 69 HGV at any one time.
How many staff are expected on site?
Approximately 80 staff (which consists of HM Government staff, security marshals and traffic management) attend site in shift patterns. The inland border facility has a total of 71 staff car parking spaces alongside a dedicated, free shuttle bus to transport staff to and from the site.
What type of vehicles are expected to use the Inland Border Facility?
The inland border facility is used by HGVs, cars and vans, including staff vehicles.
Are refrigerated vehicles expected at the inland border facility?
Provision is available for refrigerated vehicles. No idling is permitted by refrigerated vehicles as engines of all stationary vehicles must be switched off while on site.
Will vehicles be inspected at the inland border facility?
Yes. There is an inspection bay on site and the time required for each HGV check (excluding physical inspection) is a maximum of two hours. If a physical examination is required, an inspection may take up to eight hours.
Will goods be unloaded at the inland border facility?
There are examination facilities on site, and it is anticipated that some HGVs that are brought to the site will need a physical examination.
How will you monitor the number of HGVs arriving at site?
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are positioned at the site access and egress point in order to record vehicles entering and exiting the site. This data will be used to identify when the site is nearing capacity. When the site reaches 60% capacity, this changes the site status to Amber, whilst 80% capacity changes the site status to Red, resulting in messaging on the Strategic Road Network and the Government website to deter HGVs from using the site.
How many vehicles are expected to use the site?
Current estimates suggest that between 100 and 250 HGVs could access the Warrington Inland Border Facility each day.
As part of the approval process HMRC has agreed a monitoring and mitigation plan with the Local Highways Authority and Highways England to mitigate against potential impacts of vehicles using the site on the local road network.
Is any external monitoring of the highway network being undertaken?
HMRC is monitoring the use of Grappenhall Lane by HGVs using existing Automatic Traffic Counting equipment. Data collected by the equipment will be obtained from Warrington Borough Council and shared with the Traffic Working Group.
What is the Traffic Working Group?
The Traffic Working Group comprises representatives from HMRC, the local highways authority, Highways England and Cheshire Resilience Forum. It will meet at least monthly to review the traffic monitoring data for vehicles using the inland border facility and consider whether measures to mitigate traffic impacts are sufficient.
What is the procedure in the event of the site being closed for any reason?
Should the inland border facility be closed, information about the site’s status will be notified to the Border Operating Centre (which oversees operations of all IBFs nationally), the local highways authority and Highways England. An additional VMS sign is planned to be deployed on Grappenhall Lane on the approach to the Broad Lane roundabout, which will direct HGV drivers away from the site in an emergency or incident.
What is the procedure in the event of the site reaching capacity?
Several methods will be used to dissuade drivers from continuing to travel to the site, if it is approaching or at capacity. The HMRC Inland Border Facility Service will provide real-time site status updates to drivers via direct communications to mobile phones as well as through a HMRC website to be used by hauliers.
While HMRC cannot mandate its use, drivers and hauliers will benefit from checking site status prior to arrival at an IBF, using the Inland Border Facility Service. Drivers and hauliers can also choose to provide prior notification of arrival which will assist the in managing capacity at each IBF.
Variable Message Signs (VMS) will also be used to direct HGVs to alternative sites and deter drivers from arriving at the inland border facility and causing congestion on the local road network.