Latest News

March 2025 update

Help shape the future of the Westgate Brewery site

Greene King is seeking feedback from local residents to help shape the future of the Westgate Brewery site.

This process will involve the creation of a long-term development strategy for the site. Whilst no plans for the site have been agreed at this early stage, Greene King is committed to maintaining a presence in the town centre and creating a vision that benefits the local community and enhances this area of the town.

Key to the creation of this vision will be input from the local community and there will be a number of opportunities for community input and consultation throughout 2025.

During this first stage of the process, local people are encouraged to share their experiences of how they currently interact with the site and outline their aspirations to help inform initial ideas and create a collective vision that reflects the diverse needs and values of the community.

You can submit your feedback by completing our survey here

Further engagement opportunities will be publicised on the project website throughout each stage of the masterplanning process. 

  • Greene King and West Suffolk Council Join Forces to Explore Future Use of the Westgate Site

    Greene King has partnered with West Suffolk Council to explore potential uses for the Westgate brewery site in Bury St Edmunds town centre.

    Greene King and West Suffolk Council have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, an agreement, which sets out their commitment to work closely with key stakeholders and members of the local community to develop a masterplan for the Westgate site. This inclusive approach will ensure that a wide range of ideas are considered from the very beginning, helping to shape the future of the site.

    Whilst there are no definitive plans for the site at this early stage, Greene King intends to take a heritage-led approach and maintain our company’s presence in the town centre. The focus will be on thoughtful, long-term planning that aims to create benefits for the local community and enhances the overall character and vibrancy of the area.

    The collaboration will involve engaging with the local community and key stakeholders to develop a masterplan, with iterative stages of engagement through the masterplan design process.

    Opportunities for involvement will be published on this website in Spring 2025, providing further details on how members of the community can help shape the vision for the future of the site.

  • Planning permission granted for Greene King’s new state-of-the-art brewery in Bury St Edmunds

    On 8 January 2025, West Suffolk Council granted planning permission to enable the delivery of Greene King’s new brewery at Suffolk Business Park.

    Bury St Edmunds has been the proud home of Greene King for over 200 years, and this decision ensures the company will continue to play a key role in the town, preserving its rich brewing heritage for generations to come.

    As we prepare to move into the construction phase, we remain committed to keeping residents and stakeholders informed through regular updates until the brewery’s anticipated completion in 2027.

    In addition, we’ll now be focusing on creating a collective vision for the future of the Westgate site alongside our near neighbours, the wider community, community groups and West Suffolk Council. Opportunities for getting involved will be announced in the coming weeks, and updates will be published on this website in due course.

  • Amendments submitted to West Suffolk Council

    Since the submission of the application, Greene King has been in ongoing discussions with council officers and relevant stakeholders regarding the site and has been continuing to carefully consider all feedback received during the consultation period.

    As a result of these discussions, we have submitted amendments to our planning application that facilitate the following positive changes to the scheme:

    • Updated drainage and landscape design proposals that improve biodiversity net gain.

    • Changes to the building design to improve functionality and reduce quantities of materials used in construction.

    • Provision of a detailed parking note that outlines how Greene King will be accommodating all parking associated with the new brewery. This note details how:

      • The proposed car parking provision aligns with Suffolk County Council’s parking standards.

      • The site layout has been designed to provide flexibility between the proposed brewery and the new distribution centre.

      • Parking restrictions within the immediate vicinity of the site will prevent off-site parking.

      • On-site facilities will support cyclists and pedestrians, offering cycle parking and changing facilities to encourage active travel and reduce car reliance.

      • Greene King will ensure that proposed parking provision meets peak demand, such as during shift changeovers. 

    Further information about the proposed amendments can be found by visiting West Suffolk’s Planning Public Access System and searching for application reference number DC/24/0934/FUL.

  • We have now submitted a planning application to West Suffolk Council who will undertake their own consultation on the proposals before determining the application.

    We will publish more details about the proposals on this website in due course.