NEW lorry parks could pop up in Trafford and Salford as part of the UK’s preparations for Brexit.

And under new powers the government has granted itself, local councils will not have a say on where they will be built.

Trafford and Salford are among 29 councils in the country where the new border processing stations could be built under an order made this week.

The move comes as the government prepares for the new border controls which will be introduced for all goods imported from the European Union in January.

The government order, laid before Parliament on Thursday, which comes into force later this month, grants temporary planning permission to develop land for the lorry parks in these areas subject to the secretary of state’s approval.

Local councils will not have the power to stop these new developments which could soon be built within the areas listed and stay in place until 2026.

Salford’s deputy mayor John Merry said the news is “incredibly disappointing”.

He said: “This is part of the shambolic approach to the whole issue of Brexit.

“We were promised we would have more control of our lives as a result of Brexit.”

These new developments can only be carried out by or on behalf of border departments and it must end by December 31, 2025, according to legislation. All reinstatement works must be completed no later than the end of 2026.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government memo on the order, which comes in from September 24, says: “The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. A transition period is now in place until 31 December 2020.

"During this period the UK must comply with all EU rules and laws. There will be changes after the transition period, whether or not an agreement is reached on the new relationship between the UK and the EU.

“This Special Development Order is an important component of the Government’s preparations for an orderly transition to the new system of controls to secure the border of Great Britain from 1 January 2021. From 1 January 2021 the UK will introduce new controls that apply to all goods imported from the EU.

“This will require building new border facilities in Great Britain for carrying out required checks, such as customs compliance, transit, and sanitary and phytosanitary checks. While port operators would normally provide the border facilities, there is limited space for the new facilities at some ports.

“Additionally, the Government is aware the impact of coronavirus may have affected the ability of port operators and businesses to provide the necessary infrastructure by the end of the year.”

Specific sites for development within each area are yet to be revealed.