Decision time: Bury St Edmunds-based Greene King’s proposed new £40m brewery recommended for approval by West Suffolk Council planners

A move by a major Bury St Edmunds business to a new purpose-built brewery could be given the green light next Wednesday.

Greene King’s application for a new £40 million brewery in Fortress Way, on Suffolk Park, will be considered by West Suffolk Council’s development control committee.

Planning officers have recommended the proposal – for a new brewery with associated infrastructure including car and cycle parking, security fencing, service yard and alterations to an existing vehicle access off Fortress Way – for approval.

The proposed brewery sits alongside Greene King’s newly-opened distribution warehouse.

Amendments to the original plans, which were submitted in July, have included a three metre decrease in the building’s roof height, the removal of a second floor and changes to car parking arrangements.

The council received six letters of objection from Moreton Hall residents, who raised concerns over issues including odour, noise, traffic and the impact on roads, lack of car parking in the wider area, the proposed brewery’s proximity to a scool and homes, and operating hours.

A letter of support was sent in by a Thurston resident.

A report to the committee said the environmental health officer had reviewed a noise and odour assessment and raised no objection, subject to conditions to ensure the closest homes were not impacted.

Regarding traffic concerns, the report said: “It is considered that the impacts of the development are not severe, nor would there be an unacceptable impact on road safety.”

It added that the brewery’s proximity to the distribution facility would remove HGV movements between Suffolk Park and the historic brewery, in Westgate Street.

In addition, Greene King said it would direct its drivers to use junction 45 of the A14 and that it would apply for related signage.

Planning officers raised concerns over the number of parking spaces provided on site, particularly as some older commercial developments on Moreton Hall lack on site car parking, which has led to on-street parking by staff.

Greene King has since amended the scheme to allow for 50 extra car parking spaces if the planned car parking turned out to be insufficient once the brewery was operational.

The planning officers’ report concluded: “Significant benefit must be attributed to the scheme for its economic benefits. These go significantly beyond the construction phase, which in itself is estimated to be worth £40 million.

“The retention of the Greene King brewery in the town will safeguard jobs, many of which are highly skilled and well paid.

“The development would also ensure that the brewery’s association with the town of Bury will continue, which brings benefits to the town and boosts tourism.”