Brandon commission

The Independent Commission on the Future of Brandon (Brandon commission), funded by West Suffolk Council, is a body of expert advisers and stakeholders, overseeing the exploration of options to shape Brandon as a place where businesses and communities can thrive. Launched in 2025 and chaired by Mark Pragnell, the commission will provide evidence-based and locally-grounded advice to guide the future development of Brandon. This initiative aims to balance options that will best grow the prosperity and enhance the wellbeing of current and future residents, while recognising and protecting the sensitive ecological and environmental characteristics of the town and wider area in which it is located.

Current engagement

The initial online Brandon survey has now closed and the results are currently being analysed. We will share a summary of the results on this webpage in due course.

Now, we want to hear from you in more detail about what future Brandon should look like, what needs to be done to deliver it, and what challenges need to be overcome. We have bespoke questions for different types of stakeholders (businesses, residents or community groups and landowners). Please get in touch if you would like to receive these questions by emailing brandon.commission@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Brandon commissioners

Tim Cowan - Conservation Officer for the Brecks, at The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
David Harris - Chairman of Chase Plastics (one of the country’s longest established manufacturers of recycled plastic pellets with a factory in Brandon that serves customers across the UK and mainland Europe).
Terry Hawkins – Brandon resident, who runs the Brandon website, is editor of the Brandon magazine, co-founded Brandon in Bloom, helps to organise the Best of Brandon awards and is Governor at Breckland School and Glade Academy.
Professor Emma Lees - Professor of Environmental and Property Law at the University of Cambridge, and Fellow of Downing College.
Mark Pragnell (Brandon Commission Chair) - Managing director of Pragmatix Advisory, with over 30 years’ experience as a macroeconomist, forecaster and policy consultant.
Dr Rebecca Thomas - Senior Lecturer (specialisms include ecology and conservation) at Royal Holloway University of London.

Commission meeting dates

Monday 19 May 2025, 12.30pm - 3.30pm, at Brandon Town Council offices
Tuesday 3 June 2025, 11.30am - 1.30pm, online using Microsoft Teams

More dates will be added once confirmed.

Any organisation or individual that wishes to attend a commission meeting should contact the chair in advance, who may extend an invitation at his discretion and subject to space.

Past meetings

Monday 7 April 2025, 12.30pm - 3.30pm, at Brandon Country Park - First meeting of the Brandon commission

More detail and information on the purpose and aims of the commission

For more information or to get involved please email brandon.commission@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Commission chair, Mark Pragnell in front of Brandon Bridge