Public Service Development Approved

Planning permission has been approved for a new multimillion-pound public service development at Western Way, Bury St. Edmunds. The new development looks to unite public services with enterprising space.

The new 17-acre development will provide a nationally ground-breaking way to deliver integrated public services for its communities and be part of a network of existing and planned ‘hub’ projects throughout West Suffolk.

It will offer a new state-of-the-art leisure centre with an integrated health and social care hub. The development will include a large amount of new employment space, council services, police services, an advice centre, voluntary organisations and community and education services, all of which will be conveniently located in one building, improving public access, service delivery and efficiency.

Along with this, there will also be the opportunity for multiple other partners to join the scheme under the auspices of the Government’s One Public Estate programme. The project will repurpose a 10,000m2, 1960s depot building as part of its sustainability objectives, including significant infrastructure improvements, whilst further work will take place on a green travel plan, with the emphasis being on the reduction of car travel.

The new plans were approved by West Suffolk Council at a committee meeting last week. A full range of services will be undertaken by built environment consultancy, Pick Everard.

Paul Darlow, Regional lead for East Anglia at PerLect Circle, who is also regional director at Pick Everard, said: “We are really pleased to receive planning permission for the redevelopment of Western Way. This is set to be a significant project for the region and will form part of the long-term vision to create jobs and attract investment to the area.”

Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We are pleased that another important step has been taken along the way to deliver another ground-breaking initiative in West Suffolk. Not only will people be able to access health, leisure, education, and public services on one site, but it shows that working together across the public sector in new ways can bring greater benefits to health and wellbeing. We are now looking forward to working with our partners to consider the next stages of delivering this long-term and exciting project, which if anything, recent events have shown is even more needed than ever”.

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