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

04 Nov 2026

Yesterday (Tuesday 3 November) West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet approved the recommendation to sell the former Discount Warehouse Superstore site on Anglian Lane, Bury St Edmunds to Eastern Education Group.

The council and West Suffolk College, who are part of Eastern Education Group, have been discussing the potential sale of the property, subject to the college receiving planning permission for a change of use and funding from the Department for Education.

The sale would 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.

West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet agreed the proposal to sell to the college as it 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 Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council, said: “Expanding the construction skills and education offer in West Suffolk helps local people develop the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need to access rewarding careers, while ensuring local businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to grow and thrive. Engaging with our education providers is key to delivering sustainable growth and creating opportunities for people and businesses across West Suffolk.”

Cllr Diane Hind, Cabinet Member for Resources at West Suffolk Council, said: “The council reviewed future options for the site earlier this year and the proposal to sell to the college provides an outcome that benefits the council, the college and most importantly the residents of West Suffolk. The sale will help mitigate the ongoing holding costs for the property, as well as any unknown future repair and maintenance work. It will also release funds that can be reinvested in protecting council services and projects, creating opportunities to deliver benefits for our communities.”

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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