East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) breaks ground at new £10m ambulance station near Bury St Edmunds

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has broken ground at its new multi-million pound ambulance station in Suffolk.

The new station near Bury St Edmunds, which will cost around £10 million, will include a vehicle workshop and dedicated vehicle preparation areas so crews can get out to help patients more quickly.

Due to be completed next summer, the building includes improved facilities for staff including a gym and wellbeing facilities.

Work started earlier this year with ground clearance and site enabling works, the foundations have been poured and the ground floor slab is complete.

The next stage is putting the steel frame up, with walls and roof following shortly after, ensuring the building is watertight before the interior finish begins.

Tom Abell, EEAST CEO, met with colleagues who will be using the new building, as well as Ashley Seymour, development director at Assura, before walking the footprint of the new hub.

Mr Abell said: “It’s great to see work underway on this new building, which will mean our colleagues can spend more time every shift helping patients instead of stocking their vehicle at the start of a shift.

“We’ll also be able to provide a better environment for our colleagues, with improved facilities and wellbeing areas.”

Ms Seymour, development director at Assura plc, said: “We’re very excited to see this innovative new building coming out of the ground.

“The new facility will make a tangible difference to the staff experience and improve emergency service delivery across the region.”