Leeds Skelton Lake Services, the new motorway service area operated by Extra MSA Group at junction 45 of the M1, has welcomed some of the UK’s most popular food and beverage brands, as more shops and restaurants open for business.
The £64m services - touted as one of the most advanced and environmentally sustainable motorway service areas (MSA) in the UK - opened for the first time in March. A number of tenant operating partners have already opened for business, including, Starbucks, Burger King, Pasty Shop, Urban Express, Quicksilver, Spar, Texaco and Ionity electric vehicle charging. Further brands are scheduled to open at the site soon, include Nando’s, KFC, Leon, Pizza Express, Harry Ramsden’s, Upper Crust, Mi Casa and Chopstix, Sourced Market and a 100-bedroom Ramada Hotel.
Andrew Long, chief executive of Extra MSA Group said: “We’re delighted that Leeds Skelton Lake is now open with a range of popular food and beverage brands. Our tenant operator partners have worked closely with us during lockdown to ensure all their procedures and practices are safe, and we are able to provide a brilliant experience for our customers. This new motorway service area gives road users a safe place to rest, eat and refuel as well as being an important contribution to road safety and playing an integral role in supporting the national economy.
“We were very pleased to have recently been named as England’s joint leading motorway service operator and we’re confident that visitors to Leeds Skelton Lake will continue to experience Extra MSA’s first class service. Motorists will find a visually stunning place to stop off during their journey and will have a full range of selected ’brand partners’ on-site, some of whom are a first for the UK motorway network.”
Roger Marsh OBE DL, chair of the Leeds City Region LEP and the NP11 said: “The opening of Leeds Skelton Lake Services is a welcome addition to the infrastructure of Leeds City Region, increasing our connectivity, future-proofing our transport links, creating jobs and boosting economic growth.
“Our region, and the wider Northern Powerhouse, is leading the way on driving the clean growth revolution and the promotion of schemes like these that promote electric vehicle charging points is a crucial part of this. We have a unique opportunity across the North to unlock the economic opportunities that de-carbonising our economy will bring and embrace the new technologies that will drive our future growth.”
Visitors to the MSA will have access to high quality facilities and amenities, including the latest high-powered (350kW) electric vehicle charging technology, provided by Ionity. Once fully operational later in the year, the site will also host a business centre and community area for use by local organisations.
The facility also boasts a Wildlife Visitors Centre with views across the adjacent Skelton Lake allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery and wildlife as they take a break from their journey. The building is crowned with a ‘living green roof’, comprised of flowers and shrubbery, further connecting the facility with local nature.
The design of the building has been developed by Leeds-based architects, Corstorphine + Wright. The design has employed new and innovative construction techniques including the use of specially fabricated glulam structure timber beams and high-level clerestory glazing to create a spacious and naturally-lit interior.
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