Cornhill marks milestone as countdown to completion begins - Barnes Construction

A major milestone in an important Bury St Edmunds town centre redevelopment, has been celebrated as the project begins its countdown to completion.

West Suffolk Council is behind the redevelopment of the former Post Office. The building work being carried out by Barnes Construction, is scheduled for completion this summer. Once finished, it will:

• protect the Victorian Cornhill front while bringing it back into economic use and improving accessibility
• create a new commercial front onto St Andrews Street South, better connecting the historic town centre with the arc
• widen the Market Thoroughfare walkway at ground-floor level by more than 50 per cent, encouraging footfall between the historic town centre and the arc
• deliver two new ground floor commercial units, with 12 flats above
• benefit from energy efficiency measures including new windows, solar panels and an Air Source Heat Pump

The new rooftop was the venue as Leader of West Suffolk Council, Cllr John Griffiths, and Cabinet Member for Growth Cllr Susan Glossop, joined representatives of Barnes Construction, their appointed architects Concertus, and structural engineers Superstructures, to mark the progress that is being made.

Cllr Griffiths said: “It is fantastic to see not just the rooftop views but the progress that has been made on what we see as another very important investment in the town centre. This project demonstrates our continuing commitment and confidence in the future of the town centre as a place people work, live or visit.”

Cllr Susan Glossop, Cabinet Member for Growth said: “I am thrilled to see this redevelopment moving ever closer to completion.”

Mark Bailey, Director at Barnes Construction said: “We are delighted to be working with West Suffolk Council as its trusted construction partner on this exciting and technically challenging town centre project. When completed later this summer, we are confident the building will be well received, and provide a significantly improved link between the historic town centre and the arc.”

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership was awarded £32.1m through the Government’s Getting Building Fund, including £2.75m for the Cornhill project.

For more on the project visit www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/cornhill