Supporting sustainable growth at The Apex

29 Jul 2025

Work is set to begin in July on a major project to reduce carbon emissions at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, as part of wider efforts to make local buildings more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The venue will benefit from a series of improvements such as replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps, LED lighting upgrades, and the removal of gas systems replaced with electrical equipment. The upgrades to the building aim to cut its energy use, reduce heating bills and help tackle climate change.

Ground source heat pumps provide the critical heating and cooling function to buildings, and due to the heating systems in The Apex nearing end of life, it was used as an opportunity for a total decarbonisation of the site and lighting upgrade.

The council’s Net Zero Fund provided £1.1 million for the decarbonisation project, and the remaining £1.01 million was funded from West Suffolk Council’s Asset Management Plan reserve.

The total project carbon emissions would be reduced from 127.62 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per annum, to 71.23 tonnes CO2 per annum. This is the equivalent of taking approximately 12 to 13 petrol cars off the roads.

The project will be completed in three phases and disruption to events will be kept to a minimum. The majority of the works programme will take place at the same time as The Apex’s usual maintenance works, where there are no shows or events taking place.

The downstairs café and lobby seating area will remain open to the public throughout the decarbonisation work.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “This project is a major step forward in our strategic goals for sustainable growth by reducing carbon emissions from public buildings. West Suffolk Council has recently been recognised for this, having been named the top performing council in the buildings and heating category, according to the environmental scorecard issued by Climate Emergency UK.

“As The Apex is a well-used and energy-intensive site, making it more efficient will have a real impact. Installing the ground source heat pumps and upgrading the lights, alongside other energy saving improvements, means the building will be using cleaner energy and – importantly - less of it; but it’s not just about lowering energy costs, it is about doing our part to tackle climate change, making our buildings fit for the future and ensuring environmental resilience in West Suffolk.”

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council, said: “The Apex is at the heart of a thriving Bury St Edmunds town centre. It provides a cultural venue offering live music, exhibitions, community events and much more to residents from across West Suffolk. The venue is part of our wider offer of leisure, culture and heritage activities that forms part of our strategic priority for thriving communities. The Apex also attracts visitors to West Suffolk to the benefit of the local economy and our strategic priority for sustainable growth. These improvements will make the building more efficient, whilst also supporting its long-term future for the benefit of all who use it.”

As part of the work, the council’s car park at School Yard East is partially closed for eight weeks. The electric vehicle (EV) charging bays are not affected and will be available as normal. The nearby car parks at School Yard West and the arc will remain open as normal.

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