Plans have been unveiled for a major new 70-acre lorry park just off the A20, providing space for 600 HGVs heading to Dover.

The scheme is earmarked for land alongside the A20 at the Court Wood Interchange - the last junction on the approach to Dover and less than five miles from the port.

It is hoped the scheme could ease the regular disruption to the route caused by the introduction of Dover TAP. It sees HGVs stacked along the A20 when there is congestion at the Port of Dover. It was implemented 137 times in 2024.

The facility, which those behind the scheme say would also create 100 jobs, will be available 24/7 and include a restaurant, shop, gym, shower and toilets.

It is the brainchild of the GSE Group which operates the Ashford International Truckstop, off Junction 10 of the M20.

Bosses say the facility would ease the issue of lorry parking in communities situated along the A20/M20 corridor.

Darrell Healey, chairman of GSE Truckstop Developments, said: “The site offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide best-in-class HGV welfare facilities right on the doorstep of England’s busiest port.

“It would make a significant contribution towards keeping Dover clear of disruption. By helping to meet the critical shortfall for cross-Channel freight parking in Kent, it will improve the daily experience of residents and visitors to Dover and Folkestone in particular.

“By providing secure parking and better welfare facilities for drivers, we would be tackling HGV-related crime in Kent and anti-social illegal overnight parking, which also costs the public purse.

“Alongside our proposals, we welcome the ongoing work of the Port of Dover to enhance the port’s resilience, increase capacity for HGVs, and remove the bulk of occasions when it would previously have been necessary to implement the socio-economically damaging Operation TAP.

“We aim to complement the port’s wider 2050 strategy, by improving the experience of those visiting the town.”

The Port of Dover has welcomed the proposals - which will be subject to a public consultation in December, prior to plans being submitted to Dover District Council.

Doug Bannister, CEO of the Port of Dover, said: “We welcome the plans to significantly increase the number of secure HGV parking spaces so close to the port.

“Our freight customers have told us that the proximity of parking to the port is crucial to their operations and well-being of their drivers.”

Lorry drivers are required by law to take regular rest breaks, designed to prevent accidents due to fatigue.

The port boss added: “GSE’s proposal is consistent with our plans to help improve the experience of travelling through the port and to be a good neighbour to the residents of Dover in line with our 2050 strategy.”

In 2024, the Port of Dover handled 2.1 million HGVs, equivalent to 5,930 per day. The proposed new truckstop could provide parking for approximately 10% of the port’s daily traffic.

The site is also just eight miles away from the Eurotunnel terminal at Cheriton and would be accessed by HGVs travelling both coast and London-bound on the A20.