Bury St Edmunds warehouse at Suffolk Business Park could create up to 340 jobs as Weerts plan expansion

Hundreds of jobs could be on their way to Bury St Edmunds if plans for a new warehouse are given the go-ahead, say developers.

Belgian-based logistics, real estate and motor racing company, Weerts Group want to build a 485,000 sq ft warehouse in zone 4 of Suffolk Business Park.

The company already has an 840,000 sq ft warehouse unit at neighbouring Suffolk Park, which was completed last November, and is now occupied by US footwear retailers Skechers.

It is unclear at this stage who might take up the second warehouse, if the scheme wins the go-ahead from West Suffolk Council. But developers says it would create around 340 jobs, on top of those already created in Suffolk Park.

'Roger Kusters, vice president of sales for Weerts, said: “Following our existing investment in Bury St Edmunds of building SP870 at Suffolk Park, we wanted to make a further investment in the town, and are very pleased to be taking additional premises of 485,000 sq ft at Suffolk Business Park to further serve our customers.

“The building is designed to be flexible in use and has been designed to be as sustainable as possible, with significant on site energy generation from photovoltaic panels, and low energy technologies within the development.”

US footwear retailer Skechers is currently occupying 322,917 sq ft in the building at Suffolk Park, with the potential to expand to 430,556 sq ft, as its UK distribution hub for its retail outlets. The warehouse deal and building was struck and completed by property developer, Jaynic.

At the time the company said it would creates 'hundreds' of jobs at the site.

Churchmanor Estates Company, which owns Suffolk Business Park, has now submitted the full planning application on behalf of Weerts to West Suffolk Council.

Matt Cloke, development director at Churchmanor Estates, said: “We are very pleased to be able to submit a planning application for the next phase of development at Suffolk Business Park.

“The building is proposed on a site which has been allocated for employment development in the Local Plan, and subject to planning permission being granted, construction of the proposed building will commence in 2023.

“This represents additional investment in Bury St Edmunds by Weerts Group and their customers, and is expected to create approximately 340 further new jobs.”

Suffolk Business Park is a new gateway development at junction 45 of the A14 in Bury St Edmunds benefitting from major infrastructure improvements including the new Eastern Relief Road.