Bury St Edmunds campaigner’s delight as Co-op shop confirmed for Marham Park estate

A campaigner who called for a shop at a Bury St Edmunds estate has said she is delighted after Co-op confirmed it would be opening a branch.

Emma Ashworth launched a petition last year, which was signed by nearly 430 people, demanding ‘immediate action’ to see a long-promised shop on Marham Park.

Residents have waited seven years for the shop, which Emma said was ‘crucial to fulfilling the original vision’ for the 1,137-home estate.

On Friday, it was confirmed that Co-op had bought land off Crosses Link, on Marham Park, from FPC (Marham Park) Limited for a new store.

Emma said: “We are delighted for the residents and wider community of Marham Park.

“While it’s unfortunate that it took some time to find the right solution, we are very pleased with the progress made.”

In October, FPC (Marham Park) Ltd said it had been trying to negotiate a deal with a stakeholder which fell through.

Before that, FPC said it had hit a number of major challenges with the project.

At the time a spokesperson said the development hadn’t been viable due to construction cost inflation, high interest rates and being let down by other key stakeholders.

Previous plans for a Co-op, with five two bedroom apartments above, which never materialised, were approved in September 2021 as part of a reserved matters application, from FPC (Marham) LTD – Sheppard Developments, for a local centre on the estate.

Co-operative Food, in Mildenhall Road, Bury St Edmunds, closed in August 2023.

A Co-op spokesperson said they were delighted to have the opportunity to create a new store on the site to serve and support the community.

They said: “While it is too early to confirm specific details, a new Co-op would create new local jobs, and include an extensive range of fresh and chilled produce, in-store bakery, food-to-go and meal deals; Fairtrade products, pizzas, flowers; ready meals, award winning wines and everyday essentials.”

A West Suffolk Council spokesperson said it welcomed the Co-op opening a store to benefit the community of Marham Park.

They said: “The council secured use of land for the shop through planning permissions in 2014 and 2021 and have been providing planning advice and support to ensure its delivery.

“We now look forward to the building and opening of the new store.”

Liz Steele, chair of Residents Association Marham Park, said residents were very happy having long been promised a shop.

“We’re a very large development here,” she said. “We do have quite a lot of older people and they will find it very useful.

“I’m just hoping it won’t take too long to build.”

Councillor Frank Stennett, who represents St Olaves on West Suffolk Council, said he had campaigned for the estate to have a store and it was great Co-op had bought the land.

Emma added the one remaining piece for the estate was the introduction of a much-needed local bus service.

Cllr Stennett has made a £234,000 funding request to Suffolk County Council to replace the axed Marham Park Flyer.

If approved, it would see the existing service from the Westley estate extended to cover Marham Park as well as the Priors and Mildenhall Road estates.