Government to Relocate Customs Checks as Sevington and Holyhead Border Facilities Move to Commercial Operation

HMRC has announced plans to overhaul customs arrangements at two of the UK’s key inland border facilities, with import and transit checks set to move to alternative locations from early 2027 as part of a major reorganisation of border infrastructure in England and Wales.

In a letter sent to the Joint Consultative Customs Committee (JCCC), HMRC confirmed that customs operations currently carried out at the Sevington Inland Border Facility (IBF) in Kent and the Holyhead IBF in North Wales will transition away from the government-run sites. The move will mark the first time the facilities have operated on a commercial basis since they were established following Brexit.

The Sevington and Holyhead sites were developed with public funding to help manage the increased customs requirements introduced after the UK’s departure from the European Union. Today, they are the only two remaining inland border facilities still in operation.

Sevington plays a particularly significant role in the UK’s border network, handling customs processes for freight moving through both Dover and the Channel Tunnel, two of the country’s busiest international trade gateways. Together, the Sevington and Holyhead facilities processed freight movements equivalent to more than 23 million tonnes last year.

Under the new plans, HMRC said customs checks undertaken at both sites are expected to move to alternative locations from early 2027, although the government has yet to confirm either the exact transition date or where the checks will be carried out in future.

Officials warned that the changes will have a significant impact on freight movements using Dover, Eurotunnel and Holyhead, and urged traders to begin familiarising themselves with the forthcoming arrangements.

For now, however, there will be no immediate changes for businesses. Traders are being advised to continue using the Sevington and Holyhead facilities as normal until further details are announced.

HMRC said that, once the Sevington transition takes place, traders will be expected to use facilities at alternative border locations, work through an authorised consignor or consignee, or utilise transit simplification procedures to start or end transit movements.

The department and the JCCC have encouraged affected businesses to engage with relevant operators, including the Port of Dover and Getlink Customs Services, during the planning and transition period. According to HMRC, these organisations will be best placed to provide updates on how customs services and facilities will operate under the new arrangements.

The changes do not currently affect sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) inspections carried out at Sevington’s Border Control Post. Checks on food, plant and animal products will continue under existing arrangements, with the Common User Charge remaining in place until further notice.

The announcement represents one of the most significant changes to Britain’s post-Brexit border infrastructure since the inland border facility network was first introduced, with further details expected from HMRC as implementation plans progress.