Plans for 164,500 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse facility approved at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket

A massive manufacturing and warehouse unit has been given the green light at a Suffolk business park.

Planning permission for a 164,500 sq ft unit at Gateway 14, in Stowmarket, has been granted by Mid Suffolk District Council.

It is being developed by Jaynic with the plans being first introduced in June 2023 – however, there are no occupiers linked to the unit as yet.

This follows the recent announcement of £18.8 million funding being secured for a skills and innovation centre at the site which is next to junction 50 of the A14.

Ben Oughton, development director, said: “We submitted the planning application speculatively in order to maintain momentum of delivering further high-quality buildings for this prime A14 scheme.

“It means we can have the next building ready for an occupier within nine to 12 months on a freehold or leasehold basis for B2 (manufacturing) or B8 (distribution) uses.

“The size of the unit is influenced by current demand and is well suited to this prime position at the entrance to Gateway 14.”

The new facility will join The Range’s distribution centre which is set to create 1,650 jobs at the Freeport East site.

Sir Christopher Haworth, chairman of Gateway 14, said: “We are very pleased finally to achieve planning consent for this high quality, sustainable proposal, which will provide a gateway building to the park.

“With the skills and innovation centre moving forward and a number of other new occupiers coming to the site, the immediacy of the availability of this building is key to satisfying the growing demand for accommodation in this important location.”