UK Brexit Border Inspection Posts Cost Taxpayers £100m

Seven Inland Border Facilities

HMRC said Birmingham, Ebbsfleet and North Weald did not require the acquisition of land.

Taxpayer costs for the Dover White Cliffs site

The most controversial British zombie facility was known as Dover white cliffs.

UK Brexit Border Inspection Posts Cost Taxpayers £100m
Photo: POLITICO.eu

Another £17m was spent on a border facility in Birmingham planned at the airport car park. Newly released information shows it cost £11m to build with £6m in closure costs.

Local people vehemently opposed the site at the time. It cost £7m to buy, £9m to build and £1m to decommission.

This airfield was commandeered for the same purpose, to avert congestion on the M25. It cost £3m to build and £2m to close down.

A picture of Nicki Holmyard. She has short blonde hair and is wearing a navy coat
Photo: BBC

Capital and operational costs for Sevington

The government previously revealed in a parliamentary question that total capital costs ran to £154m.

According to the FoI, the site cost £14m to acquire and another £23m to build.

Uk spent on unused brexit border po
Photo: UA.NEWS

The hi-tech facility was built to government specifications to handle post-Brexit checks, compared with the 80 checks originally envisioned.

Did You Know?

UK spent at least £100m on unused and underused Brexit border facilities
Photo: Mezha.net

Frequently Asked Questions

How much was spent on the Sevington inland border facility?

Costs for the Sevington inland border facility in Kent ran to £154m in capital costs. HMRC has also revealed through freedom of information that the operational costs have run to £179m.

What happened at the Dover White Cliffs site in Guston?

Information from HMRC shows the facility has so far cost the taxpayer £28m, even though it remains a field. The Department for Transport paid £21m to procure the site and spent £7m on initial ground works, including an archaeological survey for any Roman remains.

How many trailer checks are conducted daily at Portsmouth port?

According to Portsmouth port’s director, Mike Sellers, only two trailer checks take place on average each day at the border control post, compared with the 80 checks originally envisioned.

How will local authorities manage the ongoing financial shortfalls resulting from these decommissioned and underused border facilities?