Customer and communities

Lorry parking facilities improvements scheme – Chippenham Pit Stop 

Background

This grant provides lorry parking operators with support to improve HGV driver facilities through the provision of welfare facilities, parking and improved security.

Motorway service area operators — and operators of service areas that provide facilities for professional drivers at rest areas operated by the private sector on major trunk roads close to the strategic road network (up to radius of 5km) — can apply for funds to improve their facility, providing it offers benefits to professional drivers 

The initiative

Since December 2023, we’ve worked with operators to match fund up to £13 million in lorry park upgrades across England. Funding opportunities are to support improving facilities and increasing the number of parking spaces at existing sites which include a lorry park.  

The outcome

In February 2025, improvements were completed at the Chippenham Pit Stop which features 63 new HGV parking spaces, including 10 with electric hook ups for refrigerated vehicles, new and improved site security, including CCTV cameras and a security barrier with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). This contributes to our Customer Service Strategy, which aims to make a positive difference for all our customers – including freight drivers.  

Managing travel demand

Helping people to make better travel decisions

Background

Travel demand management is a set of strategies that can influence travel behaviour (how, when, why and where people travel) to increase the efficiency of transport systems and deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.

Our Travel Demand Management (TDM) programme is helping people make better travel decisions by making their journeys to work less time consuming, more convenient, and cheaper.

The initiative

In 2020, we invested £1.7million in a TDM initiative to support people’s journeys to work while we upgrade the M27 and M3. We’re collaborating with City Councils in Southampton and Portsmouth, and Hampshire County Council, while working with local employers and stakeholders.

The initiative focuses on providing tailored travel information on demand, while promoting access to additional sustainable transport measures, including better links to bus and cycle facilities.

Results

By directing people onto alternative forms of transport, improving congestion reporting, and flagging alternative routes, our TDM funding aims to ignite long-term change in travel behaviour. These changes will support business continuity, and contribute to improvements in local air quality by alleviating congestion at critical times and locations.

Lorry parking facilities improvements scheme – York  

Background

This grant provides lorry parking operators with support to improve HGV driver facilities through the provision of welfare facilities, parking and improved security. Motorway service area operators — and operators of service areas that provide facilities for professional drivers at rest areas operated by the private sector on major trunk roads close to the strategic road network (up to radius of 5km) — can apply for funds to improve their facility providing it offers benefits to professional drivers.  

The initiative

Since December 2023, we’ve worked with operators to match funds up to £13 million in lorry park upgrades across England. Funding opportunities are to support improving facilities and increasing the number of parking spaces at existing sites which include a lorry park.  

The outcome

The improvements at York Lorry Park (completed in February 2024) saw us upgrade the toilets, showering facilities and entrance corridor to create a brighter, more modern and appealing space for drivers to use. The site was the first of many improvements we’ve been making to roadside facilities for HGV drivers.  

The investment is part of our plan to deliver a better end-to-end experience for our customers. It contributes to our Customer Service Strategy, which aims to make a positive difference for all our customers – including freight drivers — and is also part of a wider Government initiative to help attract and retain heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in the UK. 

Keswick Trail

Restoring a popular traffic-free route

Background

The Keswick to Threlkeld Multi User Trail was severely damaged in Storm Desmond in December 2015, when two bridges across the River Greta were washed away, along with 200 metres of path. A third bridge was later closed to keep the public safe.

The initiative

A £7.9 million funding package was agreed to enable work to start on reconnecting Keswick and the village of Threlkeld, four miles away. The new trail will provide a safe, accessible traffic-free route for tourists and the local community.

Started in early 2019, the work is expected to take about two years. Just over half of the £7.9 million cost for the final phase of this project is being met from our designated funds, with additional support from the European Regional Development Fund and community fundraising by the Lake District Foundation.

Results

The trail runs alongside the A66 and will provide cyclists and other users with a safe and accessible alternative to travelling along the road. In addition to the reinstatement of the bridges and tunnel, a three-metre wide pathway will enable access for all users, including those who are mobility impaired.

Lorry parking facilities improvements scheme – Glews Truck Stop 

Background

This grant provides lorry parking operators with support to improve HGV driver facilities through the provision of welfare facilities, parking and improved security.

Motorway service area operators — and operators of service areas that provide facilities for professional drivers at rest areas operated by the private sector on major trunk roads close to the strategic road network (up to radius of 5km) — can apply for funds to improve their facility, providing it offers benefits to professional drivers 

The initiative

Since December 2023, we’ve worked with operators to match fund up to £13 million in lorry park upgrades across England. Funding opportunities are to support improving facilities and increasing the number of parking spaces at existing sites which include a lorry park.  

The outcome

The improvements at Glews Truck Stop (completed in February 2025) include an additional 52 HGV parking spaces (including improvements to the access road), provision of security fencing and CCTV, and expansion of the toilet/shower block.

These improvements contribute to our Customer Service Strategy which aims to make a positive difference for all our customers – including freight drivers.  

Hidden history

Bringing history to life with immersive experiences.

Background

Archaeological investigation is an important part of all Highways England’s major infrastructure projects. As we’ve worked to improve England’s vital road transport arteries, many historically significant artefacts have been unearthed and preserved by our teams.

The initiative

To preserve artefacts in a way that makes them accessible to all, we’ve invested in the latest technology to bring items of archaeological significance to life. Many finds are too fragile to go on public display, so we’ve developed an app which uses virtual reality to share these exciting discoveries. The app works on people’s phones with easily accessible and cost effective virtual reality kit, such as Google Cardboard. It’s also being used by museums, exhibitions and at events to bring visitors a fully immersive experience.

Results

We’re now developing the app to include haptics for ‘feeling’ artefacts in the virtual world, and 4D smells for an enhanced experience of items such as woolly mammoth tusks and woolly rhino skulls.