The Proposals
This significant investment being proposed for a new brewery demonstrates a long-term commitment to British brewing within our hometown of Bury St Edmunds.
Our brewery is a fundamental part of the Greene King business and the proposed arrangement of the new facility is being developed to provide flexibility for the long-term, enabling us to maximise utilisation and respond to changing consumer demands.
The brewery is intended to contain a brewhouse, brewing operations and ancillary offices along with a service yard, car parking and substantial areas of landscaping.
The service yard will allow the brewery to efficiently and effectively link into the facilities of the existing distribution centre adjacent to the site. It will be accessed via a controlled entrance with authorisation being granted through the site’s gatehouse.
The fence between existing service yard servicing the distribution centre will be removed to join with the new brewery.
Proposed site plan
Design Development
The initial proposals for the brewery have been developed from the approved scheme for this site alongside the specific requirements of Greene King.
The brewery will be built to a maximum height of 14 metres to the ridge to accommodate the functional uses within the building, including storage and fermentation tanks that require specific heights. This is in line with the previous planning consent which permitted a maximum building height of 16 metres.
Chimneys and flues form part of the brewing operation and are required to terminate at least 3m above the surrounding roof structure to discharge efficiently. These flues are to modern standards with a slim profile.
Proposed early view from Rougham Tower Avenue with young planting
Material palette
The proposed material palette has been designed to integrate with the surrounding buildings, including the Sybil Andrews Academy and sports centre building to the north of the site and the industrial units to the south.
The dual pitch of the brewery will create a prominent feature along Rougham Tower Avenue and will feature green cladding, echoing the brand identity, and including copper hues to reflect the internal brewing process.
Floor to roof glazing will be included which will provide an insight into the brewing process.
Landscaping
The landscaping strategy has been designed to reflect the previously approved outline planning application for the masterplan of the area.
The site will feature substantial areas of designed landscape around the site, including a minimum 10 metre landscape buffer, comprising native woodland and planting along the northern and eastern boundaries of the site. The landscape proposals will provide an attractive frontage to Rougham Tower Avenue and Fortress Way. This will help integrate the built form into the wider landscape framework and will support wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity of the site.
A minimum 3 metre landscape buffer zone will also be introduced along the western boundary of the site as per the approved outline masterplan.
Existing planting within the adjacent plots has been continued into the site, including tree planting, mixed native hedges and woodland planting. Sustainable drainage including an attenuation pond will be incorporated into the landscape design.
Precedent landscape images
Delivering a Sustainable and Connected New Facility
Greene King is committed to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and the new brewery will deliver a significant reduction in water usage and energy consumption. Our proposed sustainability strategy will deliver:
A 50% reduction in the amount of water we use per pint
Renewable energy features
Modern processing technologies to maintain the quality of beer produced and improve energy efficiency
We are targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating to demonstrate how the brewery will reduce carbon emissions, improve whole life performance, support health and social benefits and enhance climate resilience and biodiversity.
Travel and Access
Access
The site will be served by the previously approved access of Fortress Way. This will include access for cars, HGVs, pedestrian and cyclists.
An additional pedestrian and cycle access will also be provided from Fortress Way to connect into the existing pedestrian and cycle facilities in this location and onward connections to the town centre.
Encouraging active travel methods
Employees will be strongly encouraged to use active travel methods where possible. Cycle parking provisions, showers and changing facilities are incorporated within the proposals. There is a comprehensive network of dedicated off road cycleways which forms part of the National Cycle Network.
The bus stops are located a short walk from the site on Rougham Tower Avenue. These will be served by a bus route extension to Suffolk Park in the future.
The distribution centre on Fortress Way and new brewery will provide just over 200 parking spaces for operational staff members (associated with the manufacturing and distribution processes). The layout of the site has been designed to provide flexibility and allow the efficient use of car parking spaces across the two plots.
Removing HGV traffic from the town centre
Co-locating the distribution centre and brewery will remove the need for vehicular trips on the wider network between the two site.
HGV’s associated with Greene King will be directed to use junction 45 of the A14, reducing the impact on Moreton Hall and Junction 44.
Existing HGV Traffic Routing Arrangements from Westgate Brewery
Proposed HGV Traffic Routing Arrangement for the new Brewery and Distribution Centre