According to new plans, the iconic Watford Gap services in Northamptonshire is going to be demolished, making way for a modern stopover tailored to the needs of today’s road users. This includes an EV charging hub capable of accommodating up to 150 electric vehicles at a time.
Watford Gap motorway services on the M1 is one of the oldest in Britain, having opened for business on the same day as the M1 in 1959. The term “North of Watford Gap” commonly refers to it as being an unofficial dividing line between the North and South of England and was once famous for being the spot where musicians would frequently stop to get a bite to eat on their way home from early-morning shows. In the 1960s, celebrities including Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles made stops en route to performances.
Roadchef, which operates both the northbound and southbound locations, plans to develop a double-decker parking structure and up to 150 electric vehicle charging stations on the property. While their EV’s are charging, drivers will be able to use an airport-style travel hub to check their emails or make phone calls.
The chief executive of Roadchef, Mark Fox, stated that Watford Gap was not the best example of British design and said that they ‘wanted to ‘build a new one on the corner of the site’ and level the old one’.
A new lease is being negotiated by Roadchef and the Department for Transport (DfT) before any redevelopment takes place. An official from the department confirmed that talks were in progress and emphasised the significance of expanding the charging services in UK as we head towards a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
