Plans for two buildings covering 130,000 square feet at a growing business park in Suffolk have been given the green light.
They will be built at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket and both will be occupied by manufacturers of eco-friendly construction materials.
Assan Panel, a renowned business in Turkey, will invest £45 million into its 86,565 square foot manufacturing facility which will bring 100 jobs to the area.
The other 44,000 square foot building will be used as a distribution centre by Bauder which specialises in waterproofing systems and insulation and already has manufacturing operations in Ipswich.
Planning permission was granted for both buildings yesterday by Mid Suffolk District Council.
Cllr Richard Winch, Mid Suffolk’s cabinet member for housing and property, said: “The green economy is an emerging market that we are keen to encourage and forms part of our aspirations for Gateway 14.
“With planning permission granted for the Assan and Bauder buildings, we are delighted to welcome these leaders in the sustainable construction sector to Mid Suffolk.”
Gateway 14 has also made headlines this week with the opening of The Range’s 1.17m square foot distribution centre as well as the announcement of a possible £1.5 million investment to the town centre with plans for a new Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund – made possible through the business park’s profits.
The site’s new buildings are designed to BREEAM excellent standards, featuring an EPC A rating, EV charging, LED lighting, solar PV, smart energy systems and rainwater harvesting to deliver low carbon and net zero solutions.
Sir Christopher Haworth, chairman of Gateway 14 Ltd, said: “This is a major step-forward in positioning Gateway 14 as a hub for today’s clean industries, particularly alongside plans for a new skills and innovation centre also on site, where cutting edge young and start-up businesses will be given every encouragement to develop.”
The site is also prioritising biodiversity with high-quality landscaping, green corridors and nesting boxes to support wildlife to create a vibrant and attractive working environment for employees.
Ben Oughton, development director of Jaynic, said: “We are pleased to be making strong headway at Gateway 14 where potential occupiers see the benefits that the park provides with its freeport status as well as underlining its locational advantages sitting next to junction 50 of the A14.
“This provides direct trunk road access into the UK motorway system.”
