Contractor appointed for expansion of the West Suffolk Operational Hub

14 Oct 2026

A contractor has been appointed for the expansion works at the West Suffolk Operational Hub, in Fornham St Martin.

Following a tender process, Gipping Construction have been selected to complete the expansion works at the council’s operational facility.

The expansion will see the construction of a new staff and visitors car park and a storage compound, alongside alterations to the current West Suffolk Operational Hub vehicle parking arrangements. There will also be access, landscaping and associated infrastructure works.

The award winning Operational Hub first opened in 2019, bringing together a waste transfer station, an operations depot, a Household Waste Recycling Centre and a re-use shop on one site, providing a more efficient way of managing household waste and recycling along with other frontline services.

However, the Better Recycling scheme and new food waste collection services could not have been anticipated when the Operational Hub was being planned, therefore the expansion is required to meet new operational requirements and support future growth in West Suffolk by providing additional capacity.

It is anticipated that works will begin on site in early November 2026.

Cllr Dave Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are pleased to have Gipping Construction on board for the expansion of the Operational Hub, and I look forward to seeing the works commence in the near future.

“The development will support the council to meet the immediate increased needs of Better Recycling, re-establish capacity for future growth and enable the councils’ ability to continue to provide high standard services for years to come.”

Julian Davies MCIOB, Director of Construction at Gipping, said: “Gipping Construction are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the expansion of the West Suffolk Operational Hub. We look forward to working closely with West Suffolk Council and the wider project team to complete the works safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to the facility’s ongoing operations.”

---