Truck stops in Kent are to receive more than £2 million of a £16.5 million fund to improve facilities for lorry drivers.

In an announcement today, the roads minister confirmed 38 truck stops across England, including four in Kent, will benefit from a £6 million investment from the Department for Transport (DfT), with a further £10.5 million coming from the industry, to offer more parking spaces, better welfare facilities and safer rest areas.

The upgrades will include new showers and restaurants, as well as better lighting and secure fencing around rest areas so drivers can feel safer.

About 430 new parking spaces will be created in the country for heavy goods vehicles.

The improvements will also help decarbonise the haulage sector by installing new charge points to power electric HGVs and solar panels on lorry driver facilities to make them as sustainable as possible.

Ashford International Truck Stop Ltd in Ashford has been awarded £589,681 in total, £294,841 of which is government funding. Its key improvement area is welfare.

Embassy Global Ltd, Embassy Truck Park, in Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, will be given the same amount, with multiple areas of improvement planned.

Motis Ireland Ltd, Motis Cheriton Parc, in Folkestone, will get £1,020,136, with £315,000 coming from the government. The money will be used to tackle security and decarbonisation.

Moto Motorway Services on the M2 in Medway will be given £132,500, with £66,250 coming from the government, with its key improvement area being parking and security.

The new investment comes from the government’s HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme. It is a joint investment between the government and industry to support the haulage sector and provide lorry drivers with modern, secure facilities across the country.

The scheme draws on The National Survey on Lorry Parking 2022 which provides evidence as to what improvements are needed and where to boost the nation’s roadside infrastructure.

Roads minister Guy Opperman said: “Lorry drivers in Kent and the South East are the backbone of the local economy, ensuring everyone across the South East can get their parcels delivered, have supermarket shelves stocked, and delivering medical supplies to the local hospital.

“That’s why we are pairing up with industry and investing a joint £3 million to improve eight of the most important truckstops in Kent and the South East, giving lorry drivers the upgrades they deserve.

“Our crucial investment will make a huge difference for lorry drivers and residents across Kent and the South East, bringing more secure rest areas to sleep with greater peace of mind, improved parking so large trucks no longer clog up local roads and better welfare to enjoy a hearty meal and a warm shower.”

Declan Pang, director of policy and public affairs at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), added: “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 look forward to seeing the positive impact the funding will have across the range of projects."