Works underway at Olding Road site in Bury St Edmunds

02 Apr 2025

Demolition and decontamination works have begun at Olding Road in Bury St Edmunds.

In July 2024 West Suffolk Council agreed proposals for the refurbishment of the baling shed (subject to planning permission), along with demolition and decontamination works on the site. This was in addition to the creation of a new recreational and community use in the former depot and the refurbishment of the warehouse section to support sustainable growth, subject to tenants.

The council has now submitted a planning application to the local planning authority for the refurbishment works of the bailing shed. This will see the bailing shed reclad and external structures removed. View the planning application on our online Planning application system (Public Access) using the reference DC/25/0455/FUL.

The baling shed site is due to accommodate the council’s emergency planning and election store.

As part of the wider redevelopment of the disused site, much needed works has commenced which will see the removal of the fuel tanks and canopy, as well as clearing up of contamination from previous historic uses of the site.

Any contaminated ground will be tested and dug out accordingly. The excavation will be filled with clean fill material and left in a stable and safe condition with the ground contamination levels being monitored for approximately 12 months.

A provisional proposal has been received for a trampoline park within the former depot, whilst the adjoining warehouse is being opening marketed for permitted employment uses and/or a storage and distribution use (subject to acceptable highways movements) within the existing lawful use.

Councillor Diane Hind, Cabinet Member for Resources at West Suffolk Council, said: “I am pleased that the first phase of redevelopment work has begun on the Olding Road site. In anticipation of the new tenants, we have started the decontamination and demolition works now, in the hope that the works will be completed ahead of the planned larger site refurbishment. 

“The proposal for the Olding Road site in Bury St Edmunds, with the interest from a trampoline park, fits in with the surrounding college, skatepark and leisure facilities helping support this as a destination area for young people. At the same time the proposals supply opportunities for business use helping bring a package which boosts our strategic priorities of thriving communities and sustainable growth.

“This is fiscally sensible, as it reduces current costs to the council and fixes issues with the current building and historic contamination on the site. The assumption being it can pay for itself within 10 years and bringing an income thereafter.”

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