Leisure and recreation facility at West Suffolk Council Depot, Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds

What was proposed

The application proposed converting and partly demolishing a warehouse and depot for leisure and recreation, with a new roof, cladding, infrastructure, parking and landscaping.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use and part demolition of existing warehouse/depot (class B8) to leisure/recreation use (class E(d)), replacement roof and cladding, associated infrastructure, parking and landscaping works.”

“It should be noted that whilst this application seeks part demolition notification under Part 11 Class B of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 – was sought for the removal of cladding and existing asbestos sheet roofing for the entire building and demolition of the structural frame from gridlines 15-27 (Ref: DC/26/0020/DE1).”

Officer report

The site and its history

The vacant depot lies on a largely hardstanding site within Bury St Edmunds, with earlier permissions for warehouse, depot and wider public-service redevelopment.

“The former West Suffolk Council depot and warehouse building is located within Bury St Edmunds settlement boundary, Western Way General Employment Area (Policy SP23p), within flood zone one and is known to…”

“DC/23/0557/VAR Planning Application - variation of condition 58 (approved plans) of DC/19/2335/HYB (1) Planning Application - Alter and extend existing warehouse/depot to create a new public/private sector hub with new sports and leisure facilities including new energy centre, surface car parks, a multi-storey car park, sports pavilion, associated landscaping and highways improvement works (following demolition of existing leisure centre, retail clearance building and…”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Thirty-eight neighbour letters were sent, but no comments were received.

“Thirty-eight neighbour letters were sent out, the site notice was posted at the site on the 23 rd December 2025 and the press advert was published in the East Anglian Daily Times on the 9 th January 2026: No comments received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward member and a representative of the applicant spoke in support of the application.

Members’ questions

Members asked about parking, and officers referred to the highways response, transport links, pedestrian and cycleways and an adjacent car park.

“In response to queries in relation to the parking provision, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that Suffolk County Council Highways Authority had not objected to the scheme; mindful of the local transport links, the pedestrian/cycleways and the adjacent Council owned car park available for use during times of peak demand.”

Minutes

The vote

A councillor proposed approval in line with the officer recommendation, another councillor seconded it, and the vote was unanimous.

“Councillor Andy Neal proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation. This was duly seconded by Councillor Ian Houlder.”

“Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that…”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Planning permission was granted subject to satisfactory final contamination results, associated recommended conditions and the listed planning conditions.

“Planning permission be GRANTED subject to receipt of the satisfactory final contaminated land testing results and any associated recommended conditions, and the following conditions:”

Minutes