An exciting new public venue at the heart of a multi-million pound development in Bury St Edmunds was given the go-ahead by St Edmundsbury Borough Council at a meeting yesterday (5 September).
The borough council's investment in the Cattle Market development of £16.2 million (£12 million for the venue and £4.2 million for an underground car park) was confirmed. Councillors also welcomed and accepted a grant of £1.5 million from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) towards the cost of the venue and street improvements.
The Cattle Market Redevelopment Working Party was set up eight years ago by the council to consider the development of the site. At that time there was a weekly cattle market, but when it closed in 1998 the site was taken over for temporary car parking while the scheme was developed. Since then, extensive consultation has been carried out and many changes made to the scheme, such as the inclusion of a public venue and underground car park. The development will include a Debenhams department store and 35 smaller shops as well as a number of apartments and a new public square.
At the meeting, Borough Council Leader, Cllr John Griffiths, said:
"What this is about is preserving, protecting and enhancing what we have here in Bury St Edmunds, adding to it, and seeking to ensure the future prosperity both of the people who live, work and visit here and future generations in a very swiftly changing world."
Construction on site is due to start in October 2006, with completion in autumn 2008.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
