The green light has been given to build a lorry park in North Weald to alleviate Brexit port congestion.

Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, has approved plans for an inland border facility (IBF) at North Weald Airfield.

The lorry park, which will open on January 1, at the end of the Brexit Transition Period, is expected to remain in operation until December 31, 2022.

The site will provide spaces for 53 heavy goods vehicles and 66 staff parking spaces.

Read more: Parish Council fearful Lorry Park will be 'disaster' for local roads

It is one of seven temporary inland lorry parks being installed across the country to help alleviate congestion at ports after Britain leaves the EU.

Approximately 60 full time staff will be on site in shift patterns with the IBF operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Epping Forest Guardian:

The lorry park site location. Photo: Google Maps

In a letter to HMRC, minister Luke Hall MP, writing on behalf of the secretary of state, concluded the lorry park “would not be likely to have significant effect on the environment”.

The minister for regional growth and local government said: “Impacts from the project are considered to be localised, temporary and reversible”.

HMRC claims initial traffic modelling indicates “no significant impacts" on the areas surrounding roads.

However, North Weald Parish councillors have raised fears over the plans.

In a council meeting earlier this year, Cllr Andy Irvine said: "It just turns the A414 into a giant car park. I don't know what we can do but it's a bit of a disaster for the local area."

Most lorries travelling to the IBF will access the site from the north, exiting the M11 at junction 7 onto the A414.

Cllr Nigel Bedford, deputy leader and planning portfolio holder for Epping Forest District Council, said: “The main message to take from the minister’s approval of the HMRC application is that the In land Border Facility at North Weald is on track to open on time.”

Britain and the EU are currently in a transition period, meaning until 31 December the pre-Brexit status quo prevails while the terms of the future EU-UK relationship are negotiated.

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