The closest junction to Dover
The site is immediately adjacent to the A20 and less than five miles from Dover, which makes it a particularly suitable location. It is the last potential stopping point for HGVs bound for the Port of Dover, and the first opportunity to stop for those leaving the Port and joining the A20/M20).
The location of the site
The site is in the parish of Hougham Without, 140m from the 243m-high Dover TV transmitter, with the nearest villages being West Hougham approximately half a kilometre to the north, Church Hougham over 1km to the north-west and Capel-le-Ferne to the south-west on the far side of the A20.
Situated in the Kent Downs National Landscape (formerly the AONB), the site is classified as Grade 3 agricultural land that is of little environmental value.
Viewed from the A20, the southern end of the site is bounded by the A20, the to the west by Chalk Pit Wood, to the east by hedgerows and to the north by Gravel Lane.
Vehicular access
Safe and suitable access to the SRN is one of the criteria required by National Highways for new truckstops and service areas. Primary vehicular access to the site will be derived from the A20 coastbound off-slip road, in the form of a signalised junction. A two-way traffic arrangement will be implemented from the Court Wood Interchange to the site access, with a single-way arrangement maintained beyond to the A20 mainline carriageway.
Optimum location
We recognise that the site is within the National Landscape (formerly called AONB) but we have addressed and mitigated these in our proposals through landscape enhancements, habitat creation and drainage solutions, that will deliver significant ecological and biodiversity benefits.
While the site is within the Kent Downs National Landscape, it is also typical of the wider landscape and as such individually unremarkable. It contains no existing landscape features or components considered rare, unique or irreplaceable, so while it does contribute to the character of the Kent Downs its individual contribution is minimal.
Compared to other sites located along the A20 corridor, this is the most suitable as it is so close to the nationally important Port of Dover. Offering easy access to the site for HGVs is the most effective way to encourage its use by lorry drivers, helping to reduce antisocial lorry parking, which plagues communities in the surrounding areas.
In addition, alternative sites in Kent outside of the National Landscape and located close to junctions on the SRN are generally within built-up areas, are cost prohibitive – because of competition from housebuilders and logistics developers – and would not address Dover’s traffic issues.
