Babergh District Council holds fortnightly meetings with owner of former Delphi factory in Sudbury over his £40m redevelopment plans

A council is holding regular meetings with the owner of a derelict factory in Sudbury to discuss his £40 million rejuvenation plans for the site.

Babergh District Council said its head of economic development meets with Mohammed Asjad, who owns the 23-acre disused Delphi engineering site, his recently appointed agent and his architect/project manager every two weeks.

Green Cllr Deborah Saw, leader of the council, outlined the progress made in a letter to South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge.

Following his re-election Mr Cartlidge, a Conservative, wrote to Cllr Saw on July 8 calling for a meeting with the council’s economic development team to discuss the future of the site following concerns from residents about a fire which engulfed part of the site on May 28.

He said residents felt the blaze ‘seemed to embody the lack of progress at the site’.

He called for the meeting to include attendance by the fire service and police to discuss anti-social behaviour at the Newton Road premises, which have stood empty since Delphi Diesel Systems closed the factory in 2020.

Mr Cartlidge said he hoped a meeting ‘can crystallise greater progress and more constructive engagement’.

Last month, Mr Asjad, director of Future Properties Holding Ltd, told SuffolkNews he was looking at proposals for an alternative mixed use scheme, which would include small light industrial units, food/retail such as a Lidl or Aldi at the front of the site, residential homes, retirement living, small retail units such as a Costa drive-thru, a community hub and bowling green.

He said they had shown the council plans for a mixed use scheme and had recently had another meeting with the authority to try to move the proposals forward.

He hoped to be able to submit a planning application in the next three to six months and redevelop the site within the next three years.

Mr Asjad, whose firm is based in London / Lancashire, said they were looking to spend about £40 million on the site.

In the last two or three years, he said there had been constant break-ins at the factory, with property stolen on numerous occasions, but there was security.

The site was bought to rent out for industrial use, he said, but due to the scale of the building that had not been possible.

In her letter to Mr Cartlidge, dated today, Cllr Saw said: “The council is acutely aware of the significance of the site to the community, and we want to see its future resolved as soon as possible.

“We have worked hard to progress discussions with the owner and now the council’s head of economic development meets with him, his recently appointed agent, and his architect/project manager every two weeks.”

She said she briefed Sudbury Town Council on Wednesday and had a meeting with the owner and his advisers on Thursday.

“I emphasised to them how important it was to engage with the community and the project manager for the site will be doing just that in the weeks to come,” she said.

“The council will continue to ensure the town council is kept informed of developments.

“As regards the incidence of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the site these are to be deplored but our community safety team, the police, fire service and the owner are working together to ensure the site is secured.”

Cllr Saw added: “I am sure you will be happy to learn that in your words, ‘greater progress and constructive engagement is being crystallised’.

“I will, of course, keep you informed of all significant developments and will arrange a meeting in due course but let me assure you that the council is focused on working with all parties to ensure that this site will once again play a major role in the economy of Sudbury.”

Following the fire, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning and was bailed to return on July 6.

He was rebailed until July 27.