Sawtry: Difference between revisions
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{{Services | {{Services | ||
|type = | |type = motorway | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|operator = Moto | |operator = Moto | ||
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|address = Toll Bar{{newline}}Great North Road{{newline}}Sawtry{{newline}}Huntingdon{{newline}}Cambridgeshire{{newline}}PE28 5XW[[Category:2020s|Sawtry {{#setmainimage:Moto Sawtry.jpg}}]] | |address = Toll Bar{{newline}}Great North Road{{newline}}Sawtry{{newline}}Huntingdon{{newline}}Cambridgeshire{{newline}}PE28 5XW[[Category:2020s|Sawtry {{#setmainimage:Moto Sawtry.jpg}}]] | ||
|postcode = PE28 5XW | |postcode = PE28 5XW | ||
|briefroad = A1(M) at J15 | |briefroad = A1(M) at J15 | ||
|stype = Single site located at a junction | |stype = Single site located at a junction | ||
|coords = 52. | |coords = 52.428411, -0.27131617 | ||
|markerpost = 0313 | |markerpost = 0313 | ||
|signposted = Northbound only | |signposted = Northbound only | ||
}} | }} | ||
A forgotten facility on the Great North Road came back to life as a motorway service area in March 2025. | |||
==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
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==Parking Prices== | ==Parking Prices== | ||
First 2 hours | First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £32. HGVs can pay £35 to include a £10 food voucher. | ||
Prices can be paid in the shop or by using [https://www.justpark.com/parking/products/how-it-works JustPark]. The location code is 625173. | Prices can be paid in the shop or by using [https://www.justpark.com/parking/products/how-it-works JustPark]. The location code is 625173. | ||
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HGVs can also pay by using [https://snapacc.com/ SNAP]. The location code is 19104. | HGVs can also pay by using [https://snapacc.com/ SNAP]. The location code is 19104. | ||
The fees | The fees are strictly enforced by [[GroupNexus]]. | ||
==Contact Details== | |||
{{Contact Details | |||
|address = Toll Bar{{newline}} | |||
Great North Road{{newline}} | |||
Sawtry{{newline}} | |||
Huntingdon{{newline}} | |||
Cambridgeshire{{newline}} | |||
PE28 5XW | |||
|3words = output.ascendant.package | |||
|website = https://moto-way.com/services/sawtry/ Official Moto/Sawtry website | |||
}} | |||
==Trivia and Design== | ==Trivia and Design== | ||
{{Gallery | {{Gallery | ||
|image = Sawtry road layout.jpg | |image = Sawtry road layout.jpg | ||
|caption = The | |caption = The road and site layout. | ||
|size = 250 | |size = 250 | ||
|keydates = {{Key Date | 1980s | Opened as A1 Toll Bar services }} | |keydates = {{Key Date | 1980s | Opened as A1 Toll Bar services }} | ||
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{{Key Date | 2007 | Remaining restaurant closed }} | {{Key Date | 2007 | Remaining restaurant closed }} | ||
{{Key Date | 2025 | Re-opened as [[Moto]] Sawtry services }} }} | {{Key Date | 2025 | Re-opened as [[Moto]] Sawtry services }} }} | ||
In an era where service station operators are fighting over the busiest roads, the Sawtry development stands out for being very small. The layout consumes all of the land available, while the parking areas will meet the bare minimum of what's required: 161 cars, 38 HGVs, 8 coaches and 4 caravan spaces, with some very tight areas. | |||
While it is positioned at a junction, it has been designed to be exclusively used by northbound traffic: a 'worst of both worlds' compromise which arises from it being built on a piece of isolated and abandoned service station land which made it perfect for re-using. As it's a quiet junction, little work was needed to accommodate the new development, though Moto have still had to pay for traffic lights and widening of Toll Bar Way. | |||
Huntingdonshire District Council's position as of February 2024 was that Moto need to "minimise southbound A1(M) traffic from accessing the site", however documents from March 2024 say that Moto and National Highways have agreed the service area could be advertised to traffic on both sides of the road, despite the massive detour required for southbound traffic. | |||
The | The new amenity building was expected to take a hangar-style design, but it was updated to have a sloped roof with wooden panelling in the corners and a canopy around the door. The units are divided into two pairs, with most on the left, and [[Burger King]] and [[Pret A Manger]] on the right. There is also a mezzanine level accessed from the main corridor with more seating and a play area. It was fitted out by Zenith Developments Group. | ||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
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Sawtry North was converted to become a Little Chef in 1996, following their acquisition of Happy Eater. A Little Chef had already been built on the opposite side of the road; that one was the '''Sawtry''' branch, and it opened in February 1984, after the Toll Bar Cottages were demolished in the early 1980s. These two now operated as a pair. The forecourt was branded [[Q8]]. | Sawtry North was converted to become a Little Chef in 1996, following their acquisition of Happy Eater. A Little Chef had already been built on the opposite side of the road; that one was the '''Sawtry''' branch, and it opened in February 1984, after the Toll Bar Cottages were demolished in the early 1980s. These two now operated as a pair. The forecourt was branded [[Q8]]. | ||
===Motorway Era=== | ====Motorway Era==== | ||
Everything changed in 1998, when the old Ermine Street was replaced by the new A1(M) motorway. The upgraded road narrowly passed the old northbound service area, taking away some of the petrol station. A new road, Toll Bar Way, was built to the west and provided access to what was left of the northbound side. Too much of the southbound side was taken by the new road and it had to be demolished. In theory it would have almost fit in the gap between the A1(M) and the new B1043, but that's before you account for the effect of the new embankments. | Everything changed in 1998, when the old Ermine Street was replaced by the new A1(M) motorway. The upgraded road narrowly passed the old northbound service area, taking away some of the petrol station. A new road, Toll Bar Way, was built to the west and provided access to what was left of the northbound side. Too much of the southbound side was taken by the new road and it had to be demolished. In theory it would have almost fit in the gap between the A1(M) and the new B1043, but that's before you account for the effect of the new embankments. | ||
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With that Little Chef closed, the site was abandoned. The remote and discrete building later became Pulse & Cocktails Adult Superstore, despite much local outcry. While this kept one building in use, the abandoned hotel and forecourt area, plus the unused land that was now surrounded by roads, became a magnet for fly-tipping. | With that Little Chef closed, the site was abandoned. The remote and discrete building later became Pulse & Cocktails Adult Superstore, despite much local outcry. While this kept one building in use, the abandoned hotel and forecourt area, plus the unused land that was now surrounded by roads, became a magnet for fly-tipping. | ||
=== | ====Re-emergence==== | ||
There had been a plan in 2010 which would have rebuilt the petrol station and brought the hotel back into use. A developer received planning permission, but couldn't find an operator to sell it to. Another plan to bring the hotel back into use emerged in 2015, which saw it refurbished internally, but it never reopened. | There had been a plan in 2010 which would have rebuilt the petrol station and brought the hotel back into use. A developer received planning permission, but couldn't find an operator to sell it to. Another plan to bring the hotel back into use emerged in 2015, which saw it refurbished internally, but it never reopened. | ||
Moto went public with their proposal in 2019. A previous plan from Moto had involved working around the hotel, and bringing the hotel building back into use. | Moto went public with their proposal to build on the land in 2019. A previous plan from Moto had involved working around the hotel, and bringing the hotel building back into use. Instead the hotel building was demolished. | ||
The chosen site is a strategic move which introduces the Moto brand to a new section of road. It is positioned prior to the busy [[Peterborough|Peterborough services]], while to the south there is the expanding service area at [[Brampton Hut]]. Also in its favour were the facts that a truckstop at Alconbury recently closed, a rival operators' service area at [[Black Cat]] closed in 2024, and the newly upgraded A14 may further increase traffic levels. | |||
Rival operator [[Extra]] | Rival operator [[Extra]] tried to argue that there was no need for it, and that the land was too small and constrained. Meanwhile, the existing land-users Pulse & Cocktails were unhappy that they were being pushed out by Moto acquiring their lease, and had asked if Moto would be willing to incorporate them. Pulse & Cocktails closed in March 2022, citing a site redevelopment project. | ||
The national highway authority's only concern was that the tight site couldn't accommodate abnormal loads, but they agreed to concede this point as the junction isn't suitable for them anyway. | |||
Planning permission was granted in February 2020, with the final details approved in February 2024. Demolition of the existing buildings commenced shortly after final approval, with groundworks commencing on the new service area in April 2024. It opened with little fanfare on 31 March 2025. | |||
==Alternatives== | ==Alternatives== | ||
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{{bottomnav}} | {{bottomnav}} | ||
[[Category:A-roads]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:A1(M)]][[Category:A1]] | [[Category:A-roads]][[Category:Little Chef]][[Category:A1(M)]][[Category:A1]] | ||
Revision as of 18:44, 30 March 2025
A1(M) at J15
Signposted from the road? Northbound only
PE28 5XW
map and directions
Single site located at a junction.
A forgotten facility on the Great North Road came back to life as a motorway service area in March 2025.
Facilities
Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Pret A Manger, Krispy Kreme Shops: M&S Food, WHSmith Amenities: Changing Places, Game Arcade, Showers Outdoor Space: No grass space Charging Points: to be announced Forecourt: BP, Greggs, Costa Express
Parking Prices
First 2 hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £15 and HGVs, caravans and motorhomes £32. HGVs can pay £35 to include a £10 food voucher.
Prices can be paid in the shop or by using JustPark. The location code is 625173.
HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 19104.
The fees are strictly enforced by GroupNexus.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Toll Bar
Great North Road
Sawtry
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE28 5XW
- 🌍 Official Moto/Sawtry website
- 📌 what3words: ///output.ascendant.package
- more map options
Trivia and Design
The road and site layout.
In an era where service station operators are fighting over the busiest roads, the Sawtry development stands out for being very small. The layout consumes all of the land available, while the parking areas will meet the bare minimum of what's required: 161 cars, 38 HGVs, 8 coaches and 4 caravan spaces, with some very tight areas.
While it is positioned at a junction, it has been designed to be exclusively used by northbound traffic: a 'worst of both worlds' compromise which arises from it being built on a piece of isolated and abandoned service station land which made it perfect for re-using. As it's a quiet junction, little work was needed to accommodate the new development, though Moto have still had to pay for traffic lights and widening of Toll Bar Way.
Huntingdonshire District Council's position as of February 2024 was that Moto need to "minimise southbound A1(M) traffic from accessing the site", however documents from March 2024 say that Moto and National Highways have agreed the service area could be advertised to traffic on both sides of the road, despite the massive detour required for southbound traffic.
The new amenity building was expected to take a hangar-style design, but it was updated to have a sloped roof with wooden panelling in the corners and a canopy around the door. The units are divided into two pairs, with most on the left, and Burger King and Pret A Manger on the right. There is also a mezzanine level accessed from the main corridor with more seating and a play area. It was fitted out by Zenith Developments Group.
History
See also: A1(M) Planning Applications
There is a pleasing circularity to the service area, as the land used by Sawtry services started out as an orchard and terraced housing on Ermine Street, the historic route of the Great North Road. On the southbound side was the Toll Bar Cottages.
A northbound garage and bungalow were built in the 1970s, as well as a southbound petrol station. The Sawtry North branch of Happy Eater opened next to the northbound garage in the 1980s, which became a full petrol station. That petrol station was recorded as 'Talbot filling station', although this is most likely a misunderstanding of "Toll Bar".
The corresponding Sawtry South Happy Eater was a mile down the road at Redwings. Both those two sites were managed by Kamper Services, who built a hotel, called the Toll Bar Lodge, here at Sawtry North in 1989. This hotel became a partner of Pavilion Lodges in 1994.
Sawtry North was converted to become a Little Chef in 1996, following their acquisition of Happy Eater. A Little Chef had already been built on the opposite side of the road; that one was the Sawtry branch, and it opened in February 1984, after the Toll Bar Cottages were demolished in the early 1980s. These two now operated as a pair. The forecourt was branded Q8.
Motorway Era
Everything changed in 1998, when the old Ermine Street was replaced by the new A1(M) motorway. The upgraded road narrowly passed the old northbound service area, taking away some of the petrol station. A new road, Toll Bar Way, was built to the west and provided access to what was left of the northbound side. Too much of the southbound side was taken by the new road and it had to be demolished. In theory it would have almost fit in the gap between the A1(M) and the new B1043, but that's before you account for the effect of the new embankments.
Back in 1993, Forte had registered a plan to upgrade the site. This would have been likely to be with a view to receiving road signs on the new A1(M). Their planning application was refused, and Peterborough services won approval instead.
To make space for the construction, the hotel was compulsory purchased by the Highways Agency, though the building itself survived. With the hotel closed and the forecourt derelict, the site continued with just the Little Chef, now accessed from the old road which met the A1(M) at nearby J15. Remarkably this situation lasted until 2007: arguably it was now doing the work of three other branches, but it was still hidden away from the motorway. It's no surprise that it eventually became a casualty of Little Chef's financial difficulties in 2007.
With that Little Chef closed, the site was abandoned. The remote and discrete building later became Pulse & Cocktails Adult Superstore, despite much local outcry. While this kept one building in use, the abandoned hotel and forecourt area, plus the unused land that was now surrounded by roads, became a magnet for fly-tipping.
Re-emergence
There had been a plan in 2010 which would have rebuilt the petrol station and brought the hotel back into use. A developer received planning permission, but couldn't find an operator to sell it to. Another plan to bring the hotel back into use emerged in 2015, which saw it refurbished internally, but it never reopened.
Moto went public with their proposal to build on the land in 2019. A previous plan from Moto had involved working around the hotel, and bringing the hotel building back into use. Instead the hotel building was demolished.
The chosen site is a strategic move which introduces the Moto brand to a new section of road. It is positioned prior to the busy Peterborough services, while to the south there is the expanding service area at Brampton Hut. Also in its favour were the facts that a truckstop at Alconbury recently closed, a rival operators' service area at Black Cat closed in 2024, and the newly upgraded A14 may further increase traffic levels.
Rival operator Extra tried to argue that there was no need for it, and that the land was too small and constrained. Meanwhile, the existing land-users Pulse & Cocktails were unhappy that they were being pushed out by Moto acquiring their lease, and had asked if Moto would be willing to incorporate them. Pulse & Cocktails closed in March 2022, citing a site redevelopment project.
The national highway authority's only concern was that the tight site couldn't accommodate abnormal loads, but they agreed to concede this point as the junction isn't suitable for them anyway.
Planning permission was granted in February 2020, with the final details approved in February 2024. Demolition of the existing buildings commenced shortly after final approval, with groundworks commencing on the new service area in April 2024. It opened with little fanfare on 31 March 2025.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Brampton Hut (A1, 7 miles) Baldock (32 miles) | Services on the A1 | Peterborough (8 miles) |
| none nearby | Moto services | Grantham North (A1, 40 miles) |
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