Planning permission granted for decarbonisation of Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre

16 Feb 2026

West Suffolk Development Control Committee approved the application for a range of decarbonisation and refurbishment works at their meeting on Wednesday 4 February 2026.

The proposed development forms part of West Suffolk Council’s programme to eliminate fossil-fuel-based heating from the facility and transition to low-carbon electrical systems, after being awarded a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant.

Last year West Suffolk Council was awarded £4.1 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to decarbonise Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill Leisure Centres.

The council successfully applied to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.

The grant is designed to support the removal of gas from public buildings which meet certain criteria.

The decarbonisation works have been incorporated into the wider improvement works that were already planned at the Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre. This should help reduce disruption to users. 

The planning application sought the approval of the following:

• installation of plant room with evaporator fan and air source heat pumps
• electrical substation
• addition of fencing
• addition of solar panels
• addition of rooftop plant
• alterations to existing access
• addition of ramp to north elevation
• render to building entrance

Once complete the decarbonisation measures are expected to save approximately 380 total carbon dioxide per year.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory at West Suffolk Council said, “I am delighted that the planning application has been approved and works can progress to decarbonise the leisure centre. This is another step on our journey towards achieving net zero by 2039. Our successful funding bid coupled with our approved application show how driven the council and partners are to making our buildings environmentally resilient.”

The refurbishment works at the Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre are progressing well, with phase one nearly complete. During the first phase major works have been undertaken on the gym and health suite.

As part of the refurbishment, planning consent was sought for alterations to the main entrance to improve the customer journey and modernise the façade.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council, said, “Securing planning permission now for the works to enhance the visual appearance and building accessibility means the programme of works can continue to run smoothly as we move through the different phases of the refurbishment. 

“Careful consideration has been given to how the works will be completed, and the phased approach means the community can continue to access services that benefit their health and wellbeing.”

Tracey Loynds, Business Development Director at Abbeycroft, said: “We are proud to support this significant step towards a lower-carbon future at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre. As a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving lives through active and healthy communities, we recognise that environmental sustainability must sit at the heart of everything we do. These decarbonisation works strongly reflect our organisational values — reducing our environmental impact, operating responsibly, and ensuring our facilities are fit for future generations.”

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