Planning consent has been granted for an £18 million Skills and Innovation Centre in Stowmarket.
Mid-Suffolk District Council for the three-storey, state-of-the-art centre at the Gateway 14 development, part of Freeport East.
The 35,000 sq ft building will include office space for high growth start-ups, collaboration and innovation spaces, training and meeting rooms and a café.
It aims to address skills gaps locally and within the freeport area and offer business support services.
Freeport East agreed £16.66m funding for the centre earlier this year, with Mid Suffolk District Council meeting the remaining cost.
Jaynic is delivering the project as development partner of council-owned Gateway 14 Ltd.
Ben Oughton, Jaynic’s development director, said: “The skills and innovation centre at Gateway 14, ensures that the site is becoming a truly mixed-use scheme attracting a variety of users that will benefit the regional economy in this part of East Anglia.”
In line with all buildings on the site so far, the centre will be built to a minimum BREAAM Excellent rating.
Cllr Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: “This is such a significant moment for what is an incredibly exciting project and one which will not only be greatly beneficial for Stowmarket, but the much wider area too.
“The Skills and Innovation Centre is set to be a hub for talented local businesses with a particular focus on the green economy, digital and AI technology while not only helping to bridge the skills gap, but allowing firms to grow, innovate and encourage more inward investment.
“We have ticked the boxes and jumped the hurdles, now is the time to for us to deliver on our promises and bring these plans to life.”
The council is also now seeking an experienced operator to manage the centre and provide business/innovation support to SMEs.
An invitation to tender is now open until Monday, December 30. The operator contract would likely commence in April 2026 for three years with an option to extend.
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