Catterick services is a proposed motorway service area (MSA) near to Catterick village in North Yorkshire, England. The services were first proposed in 2019, receiving planning permission in 2022, and a revised permission in December 2024 due to a legal issue with the previous approval of 2022. The services have been objected to and criticised due to the location of the site as it will affect wildlife in the area. It was also objected to on the grounds of other nearby services along the stretch of the A1(M) in North Yorkshire, however, government designations state that Leeming Bar, Coneygarth, Scotch Corner and Barton Park services are all motorway rest areas (MRAs), not being of sufficient standard to be motorway service areas (MSAs).
History
In the 2010s, the UK Government put in place regulations to make sure that services on motorways and trunk roads, should be no more than either 28 miles (45 km) apart, or 30 minutes driving time, whichever is the lesser.[1] Since the A1 was upgraded in stages between Wetherby and the Barton Interchange during the 21st century,[2][3] there have been several applications to provide motorway service areas at points along the route of the motorway between Wetherby MSA, and the next official MSA at Durham, with the distance between the two being 60.8 miles (97.8 km).[4] The services at Leeming Bar, Coneygarth and Scotch Corner are designated as motorway rest areas (MRA), and so cannot be considered when planning the agreed spacing of MSAs every 28 miles.[5]
Catterick MSA was given planning permission by Richmondshire District Council in 2022, but the proposal was brought back in front of North Yorkshire Council because of a "legal issue".[note 1][6][7] The issue was a condition in the 2022 permission order that the applicants, Roadchef, would mitigate the wildlife habitat loss by funding a project elsewhere at a cost of £2 million, and offset the environmental impact. Councillors stated that this clause had not been fulfilled, so the application had been referred back to the council for an updated decision.[8] Despite some councillors having reservations about the scheme, it was approved. Objections had been raised about the impact on wildlife at the intended site as it "..would destroy a nature conservation site used by migratory birds on the red list of threatened species, such as curlews and lapwings."[9] Objections were also raised on the validity of the project given that plans to enhance the services at Barton Park were submitted some weeks earlier.[10]National Highways have publicly stated support for both schemes citing the need for more services when the A66 is upgraded, although the leader of North Yorkshire Council was quoted as saying that he approved the Barton Park scheme to avoid "...the bizarre situation of more signed services on 10 miles of A1 than the whole of the M25."[11] The site, which is known as Pallet Hill Farm, is a former quarry which covers 27 acres (11 ha).[8][12]
Motorway Rest and Services areas between Wetherby and Durham on the A1(M) (northwards)
The report by the Planning Inspectorate in 2021 stated that the services at Leeming Bar had "...limited poor quality facilities..requires substantial investment and therefore cannot be considered an MSA."
Planning permission was granted in July 2022. After a legal issue, this was returned to the council for approval and given further permission in December 2024.
Indicates that the site is an MSA that is operating
Indicates that the site has been given planning permission
Indicates that the site is not an MSA
Indicates that the site has been denied planning permission
Facilities
The site is planned to have HGV overnight parking, a fuelling station, two drive-thru cafes and electric vehicle charging points.[23] The site is also expected to host a 100-bed hotel and the shops and eateries for short-stops in the service area.[24] The Roadchef application details employment for around 300 staff and an amenity area, including dog-walking facilities and a lake.[25]
Notes
^When the proposal was first considered (2022), the authority with the final decision was Richmondshire District Council. In April 2023, the seven councils in North Yorkshire were superseded by one unitary authority, North Yorkshire Council.
^Where possible, this is determined from the centre of the car park at Wetherby MSA, to the centre of the named services in the list. Whilst Leeming Bar Services are 28.8 miles from Wetherby, further than Coneygarth Services, the distance from the junction on the motorway to Leeming Bar MRA is further.[13]
References
^"Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 December 2024. 76. On this basis, the maximum distance between signed motorway service areas should be 28 miles. Speed limits on the SRN vary and therefore, applying the same principles, the maximum distance between signed services on APTRs should be the equivalent of 30 minutes driving time.
^Metcalfe, Wayne (November 2010). "A1 Wetherby upgrade: lowering the impact of highway engineering". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering. 163 (4): 178–184. doi:10.1680/cien.2010.163.4.178.
