Planning application for expansion of West Suffolk Operational Hub to be submitted soon

11 Jun 2026

A planning application to expand the West Suffolk Operational Hub, in Fornham St Martin, is to be submitted soon.

West Suffolk Council, which owns the land and is the applicant, hopes to extend the Operational Hub to provide the necessary space to deliver Better Recycling, the new household waste collection services introduced as part of the Government’s Environment Act 2021, and support future growth in West Suffolk.

The council is submitting a hybrid planning application that is in two parts, the first part is seeking full planning permission for the following:

• construction of car park and additional hardstanding, including access, landscaping and associated infrastructure and works to meet immediate operational needs; and
• alterations to current West Suffolk Operational Hub vehicle parking arrangements.

The second part is seeking outline planning permission for the remainder of the application site for further development to meet future operational needs. The precise details or reserved matters for future development of this part of the site would still be subject to approval.

The award winning Operational Hub first opened in 2019, bringing together a waste transfer station, a Household Waste Recycling Centre, a vehicle depot and a re-use shop on one site, providing a more efficient way of managing household waste and recycling. However, the Better Recycling scheme could not have been anticipated when the Operational Hub was being planned, therefore it is not currently able to accommodate the expanded operational requirements and future growth. 

The planning application is expected to be validated and published on the planning portal here on or before 16 June, ready for people to view and comment on.

Cllr Dave Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “The proposed expansion aims to secure the future of the Operational Hub and the councils’ ability to continue to provide high standard services for years to come.

“If approved, the development will support the council to meet the immediate increased needs of Better Recycling and re-establish capacity for future growth. 

“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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