Demolition works under way at Olding Road site in Bury St Edmunds

Demolition works are under way at an industrial site as part of plans to introduce new facilities to a town.

West Suffolk Council is moving forward with plans to redevelop the Olding Road site in Bury St Edmunds after it received a proposal for a trampoline park within the former depot, while the adjacent warehouse is being marketed for employment or storage and distribution use.

In July 2024, the council approved proposals for the refurbishment of the baling shed, pending planning permission, along with wider site clearance.

As part of the site’s redevelopment, fuel tanks and canopy structures are being removed and contamination from past industrial use is being cleaned up.

Cllr 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, 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.”

A planning application was recently submitted for the baling shed which proposed new cladding and the removal of external structures.

If approved, the site is due to accommodate the council’s emergency planning and election store.

With works now under way, any contaminated ground will be tested, excavated, and replaced with clean fill material, with monitoring continuing for around 12 months.