Parc Cybi, Holyhead Border Control Post: common questions

The site would be used as a location to inspect goods arriving into the UK via the Port of Holyhead.

The plans include parking areas for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other vehicles as well as security measures and facilities to enable the checking of vehicles entering and exiting the site.

There would also be office buildings, staff and driver welfare amenities.

The site is close to the Port of Holyhead and is in close proximity to the A55, a key HGV route for accessing mainland Wales from Anglesey. Additionally, the Parc Cybi site is already designated for commercial development by Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The Special Development Order (SDO) application proposes establishing a ‘consenting envelope’.

This sets a maximum limit for certain aspects of the development such as the height of the building and noise, with an expectation that the constructed scheme will be significantly within these limits.

This approach has been adopted to enable the assessment of the scheme through the planning process, while allowing some flexibility to adapt to requests by third parties during the site designation process (the formal approval of the BCP being appropriate for the inspections required).

The construction phase is due to begin in early 2023 and is due to be completed to allow the site to become fully operational in January 2024.

There would be activity on site throughout the construction phase expected to be throughout 2023.

To manage the impact of this on local residents and ecologies there would be limitations on daily HGV movements, work would take place within standard construction hours and would follow best practice to limit disturbance of lighting and noise.

Existing ecological habitats would be protected, and reinforcement and enhancement activities to encourage biodiversity would occur as outlined in the environment report. All work would be contained within the site boundaries.

Temporary rest and sanitation facilities are currently available for hauliers at Plot 9, Parc Cybi.

Until construction begins, Plot 9, Parc Cybi will continue to be used as a HGV parking facility, The SDO is being amended to allow for the potential continuation of the site’s use for HGV parking. This is subject to future funding and agreement on how this can be managed. 

The site is currently used as a lorry park and has a hardstanding area with capacity for 129 HGVs. The proposed future use of the site would be significantly less intensive.

Only a proportion of HGVs arriving at the Port of Holyhead would need to attend the BCP facility.

The estimated number is between 10 and 15 vehicles per day. The site would have capacity to manage up to 30 HGVs at any one time, including holding lanes on site to keep traffic away from the local road network. Approximately 20 to 30 staff are expected on site at any one time with 45 on site staff parking spaces currently planned.

Approximately 20 to 30 staff are expected on site at any one time including approximately 5 marshals required to safely manage vehicles and pedestrians within the facility.

Site access would be from Parc Cybi via the Parc Cybi / Lon Trefignath roundabout. Checked vehicles would travel from the Port of Holyhead on the A55 before exiting at junction 2 onto the A5153 before turning onto Parc Cybi. Most staff are expected to use the same route, some may access the site from the west.

Historical ferry movement data has been used to model the scenario for vehicles arriving and departing from the BCP. The busiest time period would be between 17:00 and 18:00 when around 25 to 30 light vehicles and one HGV would exit the site. The capacity of the BCP and the external highway network is considered sufficient to cater for these expected movements.

As part of the traffic management strategy, Welsh Government would ensure that HGVs leaving the site would not be permitted to turn right into Lon Towyn Capel towards Trearddur and other local villages and that suitable signage would support this intention.

Staff working on site would work different shift patterns depending on their role, shift changeover periods would be planned to occur outside of the traditional high peak hours, therefore minimising the traffic impact on the surrounding highway network.

Traffic congestion on the local road would be mitigated in the design of the BCP. HGVs would not be queuing to enter the site but held in lanes on site where they are security and safety checked before moving forward for inspection.

The on site capacity for HGVs exceeds the number of HGVs that would be anticipated at peak times, allowing space on site for overspill vehicles.

The arrival lane at the BCP entrance, before the security gate, would enable each vehicle to be stopped briefly to ensure that it is required to visit the site.

The entire length of the route from the A55 to the BCP is currently subject to a no waiting order which is denoted by the existing double yellow lines. The enforcement of this order will continue to be applied by Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Multiple mitigation measures would be put in place to reduce the impact of noise on local residents, heritage, landscape and local ecology.

The site layout would be optimised to ensure that noisy site activities are screened by the new buildings and face away from the residential area, with activity mainly facing the road and business park.

A noise barrier (of provisional height 5m and length 240m) would be positioned alongside the access road. The position intended to fully screen the lanes from the south-west and south-east. The height and positioning could be subject to modification as the detailed design of the scheme is undertaken to ensure the required amount of noise reduction is provided.

HGVs that access the site would not pass by residential properties and there would be a single point of entry and exit for day to day use. A secondary emergency access is provided to be used only in special cases or circumstances such as fire/accident.

Drivers of all HGVs attending the site would be instructed to turn off their engines whilst they are parked or being inspected, this would include any engines used for cooling refrigerated trailers.

Up to 12 refrigerated trailers requiring assistance to keep their cargo cold would be able to hookup to an electrical supply, allowing the engine to be turned off and noise to be limited.

Idling in the lanes and temporary inspection zones would be limited to no more than five minutes per vehicle.

The site is within a partially developed area of Parc Cybi, and the spine road is already partially lit.

Lighting measures have been incorporated into the scheme design and have been set to ensure that lighting is directional, hooded and as low in height as is practicable.

Light spill will be contained to the Developable Area +1m only. Dark corridors around the perimeter of the site will be maintained.

Minimising the impact of buildings on adjacent sites to the residential area to the south west was a key consideration in determining the placement and height of the buildings. Buildings and hardstanding would be contained to the land identified as the “Developable Area”. Within this area building heights would be restricted.

A minimum of 10m landscape buffer of native mixed tree species would be planted between the existing bund of trees and the developable area to screen the development from west south west views of the site from those living in nearby residential properties.

Towards to eastern part of the site the landscape buffer would be in two 2 sections, one south of the main access road and another section parallel to the existing bund with trees. In total both elements combined at any single point, would provide a minimum 10m landscape buffer. Maintenance and management of this landscape buffer will happen for the lifetime of the BCP, to include replacement of any failed planting.

A Landscape Visual Appraisal included an Environmental Colour Assessment which proposes a colour palette for buildings and structures to ensure they sit within the landscape in an appropriate fashion.

As the scheme is to be a permanent development, long term employment opportunities would be generated.

During construction, jobs will peak at around 160 operatives, mainly subcontractors to Kier the construction contractor. A framework agreement with Kier is in place which guarantees that Kier will create ten new jobs (five apprentices and five previously unemployed) and will host 18 work placements.

Once the facility is operational, approximately 20 to 30 employees per shift with two or three shifts over each 24 hour period would be expected. These roles include; security, cleaning, marshals, stevedores, Local Authority staff undertaking document checks and inspections and Animal Plant Health Agency inspectors, as well as specialists in environmental health, vets and inspectors.

The BCP supports the long term viability of Holyhead Port and helps safeguard the benefits the Port brings to the local area. Establishing a BCP at Holyhead is of national and local significance to the region, Wales and the UK.

The BCP will create jobs, both during construction phase and during its operation.

During construction phase 40% of the subcontracted spend during construction phase will be with North Wales small to medium sized enterprises, and £10million will be procured from existing North Wales supply chains.

A plan will be developed by the appointed operator which will explain how the site would be managed and operated safely, including in relation to any hazardous materials.

There is no statutory requirement to consult before making a special development order (SDO). The Welsh Ministers have the power to do things which are conducive or incidental to their functions by virtue of the common law executive functions transferred to them via section 58A of the Government of Wales Act 2006. This includes the power to carry out consultation.

The 2021 consultation ran for a period of 21 days from 24 March 2021 until 13 April 2021.

A second consultation on the inclusion of HGV Parking within the SDO for 21 days between 16 November and 6 December.