Cabinet to consider sale of Anglian Lane property to aid West Suffolk College expansion

27 Oct 2026

West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet will consider a business case for the sale of the former Discount Warehouse Superstore site on Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds to Eastern Education Group, when it meets on Tuesday 3 November.

The council and West Suffolk College, who are part of Eastern Education Group, have been discussing the potential sale of the property to support the college in expanding their construction skills and education offer. The site neighbours the colleges’ current Built Environment Campus and offers possibilities for the college to improve student experience, operational efficiencies and cater for future growth.

The proposal to sell to the college aligns with the council’s Strategic Priority for Sustainable Growth through skills development and employment growth within the construction sector. Funds from the sale will also provide opportunities to support the delivery of other council services and projects for the benefit of the wider community.

Cllr Diane Hind, Cabinet Member for Resources at West Suffolk Council, said: “This presents a great opportunity to support West Suffolk College in expanding its teaching provision on a single site and delivers on the council’s priority for sustainable growth. The proposal will help residents develop their skills and access new opportunities, while equipping local businesses with the skilled workforce they need.

“The sale also enables the council to reinvest in essential services that support residents and help our communities thrive.”

A spokesperson for Eastern Education Group said: “We can confirm that we have expressed an interest in purchasing the Anglian Lane site. Its location, right next to our construction focussed, Built Environment Campus, makes it a natural fit as we look to develop the work of Eastern Education Group and West Suffolk College.

“We value our strong partnership with West Suffolk Council and look forward to the outcome of Cabinet’s discussions. We will share more about our plans in due course.”

The Anglian Lane site was purchased by the former St Edmundsbury Borough Council in 2018 as part of its investment strategy and to support long term plans with the then proposed Western Way scheme. Following the decision to cancel the Western Way project, the council agreed to retain the property, allocating funding for refurbishment to maximise the potential of the site subject to securing a pre-let agreement with a prospective tenant.

Despite some encouraging interest from various prospective tenants for the space, none of these led to a final agreement. This resulted in the council reviewing future options and opportunities for the site in early 2026. During this time and to date, the council has continued to use the site for its own operational storage needs, including supporting the recent Better Recycling project, as well as providing storage space for the Theatre Royal for costumes and stage props.

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