West Suffolk Operational Hub

The West Suffolk Operational Hub was a project that has provided a joint strategic asset for three local councils, to provided a centralised, improved and transformed waste management across the Suffolk region. This state-of-the-art facility has bought together several operational services on one site to reflect the anticipated growth in population and housing in the area.

Key Stats

Project procured via the Suffolk County Council Framework

1.95 LM3 return, £17 million invested locally in social value

Allowed local council’s to align their waste strategy in one shared, sustainable asset

Community engagement meant that local public could see the benefit of the new facility and the positive impact it would have on their lives

99% waste diverted from landfill

Site was awarded a CCS Ultra award for their community engagement

At a Glance

Client

Suffolk County Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council

Budget

£24 million

Completion

September 2019

Location

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Sector

Commercial, Industrial

Our approach

The Morgan Sindall Construction team in the East made use of offsite construction methods to deliver the West Suffolk Operational Hub in line with the customer’s requirements. One of these was through the use of pre-cast concrete retaining walls, which was used due to the nature of the topography and the required design of the project. Following a series of innovation design workshops with the customer and the Morgan Sindall Construction supply chain, pre-cast solutions were designed in a way that super-ceded the quality, programme, safety and cost associated with traditional in-situ construction.

For the team, offsite methods of construction enabled them to allow more time to prepare the ground ready for the walls to be craned into place, it contributed to an overall saving in time, reduced waste on site and has been used widely across a number of Morgan Sindall Construction projects due to the benefits to the customer.

Image of Morgan Sindall Construction project manager, showing a group of students around the West Suffolk Operational Hub construction site — The Morgan Sindall Construction team undertook a number of site visits from members of the community and schools for them to find out more about the project.

The biggest challenge on the project was ensuring the community were bought along the journey and had a positive change toward the development – through numerous engagements, events, a dedicated microsite, drone videos and open site visits, the team managed to transform a community. This led to the Morgan Sindall Construction project team being awarded a CCS (Considerate Constructors Scheme ) Ultra Award.

The Morgan Sindall Construction team as part of the wider Morgan Sindall Group plc, made use of the Group’s Social Value Bank to record and demonstrate the impact the team made on the community. Over £17 million of social value was invested locally, 90% of project spend was with local SME’s, the team inspired 520 pupils at school and college careers events, offered on site tours and donated over 290 hours to support local community projects.

The shift of the community here has been immense. They now feel ownership and they feel proud of it and that’s credit to you guys for the work you have done with the community. In fact that was the strongest thing about you and why we selected you initially - don't lose that, it is so important. You walked the talk with Ultra CCS and that really showed. You have restored my faith in the industry! Mark Walsh, West Suffolk Council

Find out more about the team who delivered this project

East

West Suffolk Operational Hub

Key Stats