Image: An aerial view of Chippenham Pit Stop

Improved welfare facilities for truck drivers.

Since December 2023, National Highways has worked with operators to match fund over £12 million in lorry park upgrades across England, as part of their Lorry Parking Facilities Improvements Fund.

The improvement fund has provided truck stop operators with support to improve welfare facilities, strengthen safety and security measures and increase parking capacity.

In March, National Highways attended an opening event at Chippenham Pit Stop to celebrate the opening of their new east lorry park. National Highways contributed around £700k towards the extended and improved Wiltshire parking facility, which also includes an expanded restaurant area and improved shower and toilet facilities.

National Highways’ funding has enabled 63 extra lorry parking spaces at the site, as demonstrated in the aerial image above, which means Chippenham Pit Stop now offers 150+ safer, bookable spaces for drivers.

At the opening event, Elliot Shaw, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at National Highways said: “We recognise the vital role of the freight and logistics sector in driving economic growth, ensuring the flow of goods, supporting industries, and creating jobs.

“That’s why we’re proud to unveil improved lorry parking facilities, providing safer spaces for drivers to rest and recharge, reducing the risks of unsafe roadside parking, and making roads safer for everyone.

“This investment supports the transport industry and economy, giving drivers access to high-quality facilities, making their journeys safer and more comfortable. At the end of March this year, our fund has helped provide an extra 394 spaces across the country.”

Freight drivers – the major concerns

A Transport Focus survey of 700 freight drivers in 2023 revealed concerns regarding their working conditions, highlighting challenges such as limited parking availability, inadequate and unclean facilities and worries about security for both drivers and their vehicles. The Lorry Parking Facilities Improvements Fund, part of the National Highways’ Users and Communities Designated Fund, has directly responded to these challenges faced by drivers on a daily basis.

Collaboration with key partners and stakeholders, as well as the individual operators, has been key to the success of delivering this improvement fund. National Highways is working closely with trade associations such as the Road Haulage Association, who represent the interests of the UK’s road haulage industry.

Chippenham Pit Stop, which includes an all-weather gym, has been praised by the Road Haulage Association as setting the benchmark when it comes to customer care.

Ashton Cull, RHA Senior Public Affairs lead, said: “It’s fantastic news for lorry drivers that there will be a significant increase in parking spaces at Chippenham Pit Stop. A lot of work has gone into this project over a number of years, and we’re delighted that truckers will now see the benefit.

“Helping facilitate more safe and secure parking is a key RHA priority with a shortage of 11,000 spaces across the country. The additional facilities at Chippenham Pit Stop shows what can be achieved with the right collaboration and support.”

Elsewhere in the country, improvements have also been delivered at York Lorry Park, Exelby Services, Scunthorpe Truck Stop, Glews Services in Goole, and Junction 26 at Waltham Abbey.

Completed improvements have led to additional lorry parking spaces, upgraded showers, toilets, fencing, and CCTV installations at over 120 sites – you can view the full list of sites here.

These improvements are designed to tackle key issues faced by HGV drivers, such as limited parking, inadequate facilities, and security concerns and we’re asking drivers for feedback on the facilities we’ve match-funded – look out for the posters and scan the QR code to let us know what you think.

The efforts have been widely praised by Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, for their contribution to making the roads safer and improving conditions for lorry drivers.