West Suffolk Council purchases land to expand Operational Hub on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds

24 Feb 2026

The council has successfully purchased land adjacent to the Operational Hub in Fornham St Martin to provide the necessary space to deliver new household waste collection services and support future growth in West Suffolk.

In June 2026 the Better Recycling scheme is being introduced across West Suffolk as part of the Government’s Environment Act 2021 to provide separate weekly food waste collections, kerbside collection of glass, and a twin stream recycling service for households.

The Better Recycling scheme could not have been anticipated when the Operational Hub was being planned. Whilst it was designed and built in accordance with best practice and service needs, particularly regarding environmental and health and safety standards, the Hub is not currently able to accommodate the 40 additional staff and 14 refuse collection vehicles that are required to deliver the new service in conjunction with anticipated growth.

West Suffolk Council agreed to a one-off revenue budget of £485,000, funded from the capital projects financing reserve and a gross capital budget of £9,500,000 funded from unallocated capital receipts and prudential borrowing to buy the land and for the construction of facilities on part of it to meet immediate operational needs.

Following the successful purchase of the land, West Suffolk Council will now progress with a hybrid planning application to seek detailed consent to extend the facilities to accommodate the Better Recycling services and to seek outline consent on the remaining site for future operational uses.

Subject to planning, the following is intended:

• create a new access road
• relocation of the staff car park
• build additional yard space to store bins, skips and other assets
• re-purpose current the current staff car park as additional operational vehicle parking and equipment storage space

Cllr Dave Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said:
“This is a pivotal moment in securing the future of the Operational Hub and the councils’ ability to continue to provide high standard services.

“Building on the success of the Operational Hub which opened in 2019 the proposed development will support the council to meet the immediate increased needs of Better Recycling and re-establish capacity for future growth.

“Alternative options have been considered, including offsite staff parking with shuttle service and continuing to operate using current arrangements of storing equipment at other locations. However, these come at additional costs that will rise year on year and offer no option for future expansion.

“Having a single operational site enables the council to maximise operational efficiency and increases commercial services activity, which provides an income stream which helps fund important council services.”

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