Funding of £18.8 million has been agreed to create a 35,000 sq ft Skills & Innovation Centre at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket. The scheme is being developed by Mid-Suffolk Council’s subsidiary Gateway 14 in partnership with developer Jaynic. It involves a new three-storey centre at Gateway 14, part of the Freeport East zone and includes office space for start-ups, collaboration spaces, training and meeting rooms, as well as a café.

Freeport East agreed £16.7 million funding for the centre in March and Mid Suffolk Council will meet the remaining costs. Steve Beel, chief executive for Freeport East, said: "The new centre, along with other recent announcements, significantly strengthens our ability to market the Stowmarket and Mid Suffolk area to various companies, both in the UK and internationally. This positions our region as one of the top choices for inward investment in the UK."

Ben Oughton, Jaynic development director, added: “Gateway 14 is continuing to make great progress and potential occupiers are recognising its huge benefits – including its Freeport status and excellent connectivity to the A14. It is bringing significant investment to Mid Suffolk.”

Separately, Mid Suffolk District Council has granted planning permission for a new 164,500 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse unit (photo, right) at Gateway 14. The application had been made by Jaynic, in partnership with Gateway 14 Ltd.

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