A multi-million pound regeneration project that will see Sudbury bus station moved and the site redeveloped with a possible cinema, cafes, shops and flats is finally set to go ahead after the district council bought Borehamgate Precinct, we can exclusively confirm.
The purchase, which is due to be completed today, brings Babergh’s investment in the Hamilton Road rejuvenation project up to almost £5million over the past 18 months.
It includes the acquisition of Navigation House in Eastern Road and just a few weeks ago, the purchase of the former Cakebread Robey builders yard in Francis Road next to the bus station.
The latest deal has been described as the “final piece in the puzzle” that will enable the council to transform the neglected part of the town and give a much-needed boost to the local economy.
The project has been in the pipeline for almost three decades but has repeatedly been delayed due to ongoing negotiations multiple landowners in Hamilton Road. But the two recent purchases mean that the council now owns enough of the site to put together a development proposal.
The idea is that the restoration will completely change the face of Sudbury at one of the key entry points to the town, creating a ‘hub’ along the lines of The Arc in Bury St Edmunds.
Simon Barrett, Babergh’s portfolio holder for Portfolio Holder for growth and the local economy described the council’s investment as a “serious commitment to the future of Sudbury”.
“This is very exciting news for Sudbury and is the best opportunity we have had in the past 30 years to make this regeneration happen,” he said.
“People often say Babergh has no commitment to Sudbury but the amount we have spent on ensuring that this project goes ahead is more almost £5million and we have already invested considerably in the plans to expand Gainsborough’s House.
“It is all aimed at making Sudbury a more vibrant and attractive place for visitors and residents – and for future generations.”
The precinct investment is part of the council’s medium term financial strategy and will be an “income generator” to offset cuts in central Government funding. Although it will eventually be part of the redevelopment, there will be no changes to current tenants in the short term.
Babergh has already appointed Macegreen Consulting to come up with an investment package that the council can “take to market” or bring to fruition with development partners. They are expected to present a “preferred option” next February.
Mr Barrett added: “They will investigate all of the options and provide us with a clear view of what the market wants, whether that’s a cinema and if the site can support that, or if we need to include some residential in there as well.
“Cinema operators prefer much smaller locations these days and anything we put on there has to be the right size for the town and the local catchment area. We are thinking of something on the lines of the Abbeygate Cinema in Bury St Edmunds but ultimately it will all boil down to what is financially viable and deliverable in that area.”
Although the bus station was gifted to Babergh in the 1960s when Borehamgate was built, the precinct was sold in 2006 to real estate firm NOS 3 Ltd with a legally binding covenant still in place. It stated that if land ceased to be used as a bus station then it would revert back to the precinct owner.
Mr Barrett said now the council owned the precinct, this was no longer an issue.
CINEMA IN SUDBURY?
The last cinema in Sudbury closed more than 30 years ago and local people both young and old are equally keen to bring the flicks back to the town.
At one time, there were two cinemas in the town centre – the County Picture Palace in King Street and the Gainsborough Electric Theatre in East Street.
The Gainsborough was among the first purpose-built cinemas in the provinces when it opened in 1912, but the later County – which was eventually pulled down in the 1960s – was considered a real ‘picture palace.’
The only place in the town where movie goers can currently watch pictures on the big screen is at the Quay Theatre’s special film nights.
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