Roadchef has announced a new agreement with National Highways and the Department for Transport to secure the lease extension on five of its sites for a further 75 years.
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 provides long-term stability for all Roadchef customers and colleagues, delivering the assurance needed for Roadchef to unlock over £300 million investment into the business over the next five years. This investment will fund new EV charging infrastructure, the upgrade of HGV driver facilities, increased retail and catering options as well as the capacity to develop new sites.
The expansion of EV charging points is in response to increased consumer demand as well as Roadchef anticipating the future needs of drivers. Roadchef plans to increase the number of charger bays across its sites to 1,000 by 2030, as a result of the new investment in the business.
Under the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles, motorway service areas will play a critical role in improving the availability of en-route charging points.
Roadchef currently operates 31 locations across the UK, serving over 46 million customers annually.
Tim Gittins, Chief Executive of Roadchef, comments:
“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. 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.”
(Picture: Roachef)
