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Roadchef expands five motorway service areas

This investment will fund EV charging infrastructure, the upgrade of HGV driver facilities, and the capacity to develop new sites.

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Roadchef has agreed with National Highways and the Department for Transport (DfT) to secure the lease extension on five of its sites for a further 75 years.

This investment will fund EV charging infrastructure, the upgrade of HGV driver facilities, increased retail and catering options, and the capacity to develop new sites.

Roadchef plans to increase the number of charger bays across its sites to 1,000 by 2030, as a result of the investment in the business.

The sites where the leases have been extended are Clacket Lane Eastbound and Westbound, Northampton Northbound and Southbound, Sandbach Northbound and Southbound, Strensham Northbound and Watford Gap Northbound and Southbound.

The multi-decade deal was intended to provide long-term stability for customers and colleagues, and for Roadchef to unlock over £300m investment into the business over the next five years.

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Roadchef said that the modernisation of HGV facilities remains a key priority, with driver welfare on UK motorways an important consideration.

As the HGV sector plays a vital role in keeping UK supply chains moving, Roadchef explained that it is committed to enhancing the facilities for drivers.

This includes increasing HGV parking capacity, upgrading catering units, improving shower and changing facilities and investing in security upgrades and high-speed Wi-Fi.

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Moving forward, Roadchef said it is focusing on evolving its retail and catering partnerships to ensure that more motorists have convenient access to the nation’s favourite brands from McDonald’s and Costa, through to Pret A Manger, LEON, WHSmith and Co-op, when travelling on UK motorways.

Roadchef currently operates 31 locations across the UK, serving more than 46 million customers annually.

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Tim Gittins, chief executive of Roadchef, said: “Securing the lease extension on five state-owned sites marks a significant milestone for Roadchef, giving us the long-term certainty to deliver new investment across the network.

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“We are focused on enhancing the customer experience today, while making the upgrades needed for the future.

“Having worked closely with National Highways and the Department for Transport, this agreement demonstrates what can be achieved when the public and private sector collaborate with a shared ambition, to deliver meaningful benefits for motorists, employees and the wider UK economy.

“This is a pivotal time for Roadchef, with further developments already in the pipeline.

“This investment will support our continued growth, enabling us to expand our network and provide more motorists with access to high-quality facilities across the UK’s road network.”

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Elliot Shaw, chief customer and strategy officer at National Highways, added: “We’re proud to have secured this long-term lease agreement with Roadchef, enabling us to further enhance these vital services that help drivers rest, recharge, and stay safe.

“This deal shows our continued commitment to managing public assets wisely and making sure they benefit everyone.

“It also paves the way for important upgrades, such as expanded electric vehicle charging and HGV driver facilities, supporting our vision for a cleaner, greener transport network.”

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather, said: “We know we need to support businesses in the transition to electric and that’s why we’re investing over £7.5 billion to grow the market, boost EV manufacturing, increase sales and build up the UK charging network.

“Our recent £1 billion investment will cut cost for British businesses, support jobs, clean up our roads, and give operators protection against shifting global fuel prices.

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“The logistics sector is the backbone of the UK economy, worth £170 billion and supporting 2.7 million jobs.

“We’re helping them expand and decarbonise their fleets whilst saving them cash, driving growth up and down the country.”

Alpesh Patel, a managing director at Macquarie Asset Management, added: “As a longterm investor in the UK, we understand the vital role that high quality infrastructure plays in supporting economic growth, employment and improved public services.

“Roadchef’s lease extensions provide the longterm certainty needed to unlock meaningful investment across its site network, delivering enhanced services for motorists nationwide, both now and into the future.”

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