Work to start on new Mildenhall Hub in just over a week’s time

Construction of the Mildenhall Hub delivering much needed facilities for people in and around the town, is to start in just over a week’s time.

The major national project will create a bigger and better school, leisure facilities including a new larger swimming pool as well as a health centre, children’s centre, public library, Job Centre, Citizen’s Advice Bureau as well as space for Suffolk Police, West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council.

R G Carter was awarded the £39m building contract earlier this year. It has already carried out enabling works including a sewer diversion and construction will get underway from March 18.

The Mildenhall Hub will integrate community and public services and is already recognised as a significant project in the Government’s national One Public Estate Programme.

James Waters, Leader of Forest Heath District Council, said: “This exciting and ambitious project is about delivering on our promise of better 21st century facilities shaped for the people that we represent, not just in Mildenhall but the surrounding villages.

“It is about the need for a better school for children and grandchildren to learn in, and a better swimming pool and other leisure facilities integrated with a new health centre. It is also about the various partners working even more closely together and making it easier for people to access services rather than having to journey from one location to another.”

MP for West Suffolk and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m delighted that construction of the Mildenhall Hub, recognised by the Government as a major national project to bring education, leisure, health and local services together, will soon be underway. It represents a new and better way of delivering integrated accessible services for the community and I can’t wait to see the Hub open and in use next year.”

James Wilson, director and general manager at R G Carter Ltd, said:  “R G Carter is delighted to be delivering this innovative project.  It’s great to be able to provide the local community with a new purpose-built environment, which matches the council’s vision for the very best services and support across the region.”

Susan Byles, principal of Mildenhall College Academy, added: “There are few academies in the country that are purposely designed and built to be at the very centre of a community hub. The opportunities that this will bring to the students of Mildenhall are both unique and plentiful. Not only will our students learn in a modern, purpose-built academy building but they will also have access to other amazing facilities such as a swimming pool and leisure centre.

“The academy’s students and their families will be able to access many public services on one site, allowing opportunities for greater collaboration between the providers of these services and a far higher level of support for our local people. The academy will be well placed to ensure that the welfare of students and families comes first whilst retaining the very highest standards of education and academic success.”

Funding for the project is coming from Forest Heath District Council, the Department for Education, Suffolk County Council, Academy Transformation Trust, Sport England and Suffolk Police.