Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 29 January (HL 12331), whether the Department for Transport has provided a demonstration of need for an Inland Border Facility at Dover; and whether any alternative sites have been considered.

Further to the Written Answer provided by Lord Greenhalgh on 29 January, I can confirm that the Department for Transport (DfT) is progressing plans for the White Cliffs Inland Border Facility. The site will act as a location for starting and ending the transit of goods to and from the UK for Department of Environmental, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Several other sites were considered but White Cliffs was the only one that met the requirements of my department and HMRC. Official Controls Regulations state that inbound consignments requiring Sanitary and Phytosanitary checks must be carried out at a Border Control Post (BCP) located either at the port or point of entry, or at the nearest site suitable for the provision of all infrastructure and facilities required to comply with the official controls regulations governing BCP functions for the commodities to be controlled there.

White Cliffs Inland Border Facility will include a BCP to support the Port of Dover where inbound consignments to the UK may be inspected in a bio secure facility, such as plants, animals and products of animal and plant origin (e.g. food). It will include parking areas for Heavy Goods Vehicles, while waiting to be processed, and other vehicles as well as security measures and facilities to enable the checking of vehicles and goods entering and exiting the site.

DfT’s proposed use of the site will require approval, which is being sought by the Government under the requirements of a Special Development Order (SDO). The White Cliffs Inland Border Facility proposals are planned for temporary use and are designed to ensure that there are no significant or long-term environmental effects. DfT does not expect to use this site as a temporary lorry holding facility. DfT, alongside other Government departments, has undertaken a review of options for the use and layout of the site and based on current planning, expect the site to be needed for up to five years. The terms of the SDO require the development to end by December 2025 and reinstatement works to be completed by December 2026.

Government recognises the importance of engagement and we will continue to engage with the community and relevant stakeholders throughout the process to ensure transparency. Details can be found on the Inland Border Facilities website at: https://inlandborderfacilities.uk