Doncaster Marr MSA

The A1(M) running past Doncaster carries around 77,000 vehicles per day, but both it and the adjoining motorways and trunk roads are significantly under-served by places where all motorway users, including those driving HGVs and travelling on coaches, can rest, refresh, recharge and refuel.

Welcome Break is proposing to develop a new Motorway Service Area (MSA) to serve the safety and welfare needs of motorists travelling along the A1(M) and the connecting road network.

We are proposing a new MSA on land next to and east of Junction 37 of the A1(M), off Barnsley Road, Scawsby, Doncaster. The new service area would provide modern facilities for motorists, HGV drivers, coach operators and other road users, with dedicated parking, places to eat and rest, fuel facilities and electric vehicle charging.

Most people see service areas as a stopping point along the way – a necessity rather than a place to be enjoyed. Welcome Break sees things differently. Our plans for Doncaster Marr are to develop a state-of-the art services, sitting within an extensively landscaped setting. It would include a modern main building with a wide range of food and drink options, shops, toilets and showers. There would be indoor and outdoor seating and dog walking and picnic areas, plus an outdoor gym. In addition, there would be a drive-thru coffee shop for shorter stops. Around 355 car parking spaces are proposed, including the region’s largest ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging hub.

Electric vehicle charging is a critical component of the new service area. The plans include 44 ultra-rapid charging spaces for cars and vans, with a further 18 spaces ready to become charging points in the future, as the use of electric vehicles becomes more widespread.

For eHGV drivers we are providing what will be amongst the first drive-thru ultra-rapid charging facilities on the motorway network in the north of England. These allow short duration / top up recharging stops, without the need for reversing or uncoupling. In addition, there will be 10 dedicated conventional eHGV parking spaces that can be used during longer rest breaks, plus a further 10 eHGV ready charging spaces which would be brought online as demand increases. This will give drivers more choice when stopping on the A1(M), whether they are making a quick stop or taking a longer rest break, and encourage the wider use of eHGVs across the country, aligned with the Government’s ambition to shift the UK’s HGV fleet to zero emission vehicles.

If built today, our service area would contain the largest EV charging hub within the region.

The project would represent a capital investment of around £50 million and employ up to 150 construction workers on site at the busiest stage of construction. Once fully operational, the MSA would create around 200 full-time equivalent jobs, as well as additional part-time roles. Around 25% of the new jobs would be managerial and professional positions, alongside roles in sales and customer service. Local people would be strongly encouraged to apply.