Westgate Vision – Have your say

We are seeking feedback from local residents to help shape the future of the Westgate Brewery site.

Following unanimous approval from West Suffolk Council of our proposals to relocate to a new state-of-the-art brewing facility at Suffolk Business Park, we are beginning the masterplanning process for our historic Westgate Brewery site.

Westgate Masterplan Area site boundary

This process will involve the creation of a long-term development strategy for the site. Whilst there are no clear plans for the site at this early stage, we are 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.

Westgate brewery early visioning engagement

Thank you to everyone who took part in our initial workshops and completed the Westgate brewery site survey in April 2025.  We appreciate your input and engagement.

All responses will be analysed and fed back to the design team who will consider all comments when developing the concept masterplan. This will detail potential future uses for the site and help establish design principles for the overarching vision.

A summary report outlining our initial findings will be published on this website in due course.

What happens next?

Spring 2025

Early visioning engagement

Summer/Autumn 2025

Concept masterplan consultation

Winter 2025/ 2026

Masterplan consultation

FAQs

  • Masterplanning is the process of creating a long-term plan for the design, development, and organisation of a space, such as a city, neighbourhood, or large project site. It considers how land, buildings, infrastructure, and resources will be used and connected to meet current and future needs, ensuring functionality, sustainability, and harmony within the environment.

    For the Westgate Brewery, the broad principles for the site is to regenerate the Westgate area of Bury St Edmunds by respecting and protecting its heritage, transforming building uses to include potential commercial and residential purposes, delivering community benefits, and respecting our closest site neighbours.

  • We are holding initial workshops in April 2025 to gather insights from our closest neighbours and local community groups. Our live survey will also allow members of the wider community to share their feedback on the early vision for the site.

    Further consultation events will take place later this year, including workshops and drop-in exhibitions on the concept masterplan and, in due course, the final masterplan.

  • The feedback received at each stage will be shared with the design team responsible for developing the masterplan for the site. It will be analysed and responded to where possible.

    All feedback will be recorded in the Statement of Community Engagement, which will be submitted to West Suffolk Council as part of the masterplan application. Summary reports will be uploaded to this website to share feedback at each stage.

  • It is anticipated that the masterplan will be submitted to West Suffolk Council for approval in 2026.

  • It is too early to state when construction will commence on site. Subject to the approval of the masterplan, it will be necessary to submit detailed applications (Reserved Matters applications) to approve the detailed design elements for the development such as the building appearance, access points and landscaping.