Planning permission has been granted for a multi-million-pound ‘public service development’ in Bury St Edmunds which is designed to combine public services with employment space. The 17-acre scheme at Western Way will provide what the promoter says is a nationally ground-breaking way to deliver integrated public services as part of a network of existing and planned ‘hub’ projects in West Suffolk. It will include a new leisure centre with an integrated health and social care hub, and new employment space, council services, police, an advice centre, voluntary organisations, and community and education services, all in one building. It will also offer scope for other partners to join the scheme under the government’s One Public Estate programme, and will repurpose a 10,000 sq m 1960s depot building with improved infrastructure and a green travel plan. Councillor John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “Not only will people be able to access health, leisure, education and public services on one site, but it shows that working together across the public sector in new ways can bring greater benefits to health and wellbeing.”
Built environment consultancy Pick Everard will provide services operating under the Perfect Circle collaboration. Paul Darlow, regional lead for East Anglia at Perfect Circle and regional director at Pick Everard, said: “This is set to be a significant project for the region and will form part of the long-term vision to create jobs and attract investment to the area.”