NH and Moto agree long-term motorway services leases and EV charging expansion

National Highways has agreed long-term lease extensions with Moto Hospitality across 10 motorway service areas in England, enabling a £500m investment programme that will include significant upgrades to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and facilities for freight drivers.

image: Moto

The deal extends Moto’s leases for more than 75 years and is intended to give the operator long-term certainty to invest in site redevelopment across the strategic road network.

A key focus of the programme will be expanding EV charging provision at motorway service areas, alongside improvements to HGV driver facilities and wider customer amenities.

Elliot Shaw, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at National Highways, said the agreement would support improvements to essential roadside infrastructure. He said, “We’re proud to have secured this long-term lease agreement with Moto, 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.”

Moto said the lease extensions would allow it to accelerate investment in its motorway service estate, with a particular emphasis on modernising facilities in line with changing transport needs.

The agreement forms part of wider industry and government efforts to upgrade roadside infrastructure, with EV charging expansion seen as a key component of supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles and improving long-distance driving infrastructure across England’s motorway network.