Over the past year, West Suffolk Council has carried out refurbishment projects across several operational sites, boosting energy efficiency and cutting carbon emissions.

The authority opted to upgrade existing buildings rather than demolish and rebuild, aiming to meet environmental standards, enhance community facilities and lower running costs for taxpayers and tenants.

In early 2026, work to upgrade the public toilets in the Abbey Gardens included removing gas services, with predicted savings of 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Alongside replacing internal fittings and toilets, a Changing Places facility was installed for people who need extra space and the assistance of a carer.

At the Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds, a structural investigation of the ballroom led to the replacement of the floor, with added insulation to improve the building’s energy performance, and the restoration of the historic chandeliers.

The first phase of decarbonising The Apex was completed in summer 2025. Gas systems serving hot water, commercial ovens and extraction were removed and replaced with electric alternatives. Further measures such as LED lighting upgrades and independently controllable electric heating and cooling in the office and studio improved efficiency. The building is expected to cut emissions by around 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year and reduce energy consumption by 840,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.

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Commercial industrial units have also been refurbished to extend the life of assets, meet regulations, eliminate hazardous materials such as asbestos and support income generation.

On Eastern Way in Bury St Edmunds, an asbestos cement roof was replaced with a new insulated roof fitted with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Combined with a full internal refurbishment, the works lifted the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) from D to B.

On Hollands Road in Haverhill, a unit recovered by the council in an unlettable condition underwent internal and external refurbishment between March and December 2025. The scheme delivered insulation and fire safety upgrades, asbestos removal, factory and office refits, and new roofing and cladding.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: "Retrofitting existing buildings is one of the most effective ways to cut carbon responsibly. By upgrading rather than rebuilding, we reduce operational emissions whilst extending the life of the building, and this supports our wider net zero ambition through sustainable growth. Importantly, it makes buildings cheaper to run as less carbon means lower bills.

"We would never be complacent about our performance, or underestimate how much there is still to do. But the council’s continued efforts to decarbonise its buildings led to West Suffolk Council being named the top performing district council in the buildings and heating category of the environmental scorecard issued by Climate Emergency UK in 2025."