Plans for a new 'public service development' at Western Way, Bury St Edmunds have been given the go-ahead.

The 17-acre multi-million-pound development will provide a nationally ground-breaking way to deliver integrated public services for its communities, as part of a network of existing and planned 'hub' projects.

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

As well as offering opportunities 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 and while further work will take place on a green travel plan with the emphasis being on reducing car travel.

-- Advertisement --

The plans were approved by West Suffolk Council.

A full range of services will be undertaken by built environment consultancy Pick Everard - operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration, which works exclusively on Scape Group's Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – including architecture, building service, structural and civil engineering, quantity surveying, sustainability including BREEAM, BIM, highways engineering, interior design, and health and safety.

The team has been working on the project since 2016, following their work on the original masterplan and delivery of phase one, West Suffolk House, in 2009; producing master planning options, project costs and supporting the business case, which were presented in 2019.

Over this period, the team has been providing a large range of services to deliver this second phase, including architecture, building services, structural and civil engineering, quantity surveying, sustainability including BREEAM, BIM, highways engineering, interior design, landscape and health and safety.

Victoria Brambini, managing director at Perfect Circle, said: "This latest step in the Western Way development has been a long time in the making, following several years of hard work alongside the council to bring this ambitious concept together and create detailed plans for the public service development."