New look Market Thoroughfare reopened after more than two years being closed
Pictured at the new look Market Thoroughfare are, front row, left to right, councillors Paul and Beccy Hopfensperger, Susan Glossop, Sarah Broughton, leader of West Suffolk Council John Griffiths, chair of West Suffolk Council Mike Chester, councillor Sara Mildmay-White, and Chris Dashper, head of programmes at New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership. Back row, John Popham, town mayor, councillors Peter Thompson, Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, Richard Summers, Paul Bedford and Arc manager and vice-chair of Our Bury St Edmunds Allan Hassell. Photo: West Suffolk Council.
The opening of an improved walkway, connecting the Arc Shopping Centre with the historic town centre of Bury St Edmunds has taken place today, Tuesday, February 22.
Market Thoroughfare has been closed for two-and-a-half years while contractor Barnes Construction worked on redeveloping the former site of the Post Office at 17-18 Cornhill. That redevelopment is in the final stages with a completion date expected for March.
Part of the redevelopment has seen ground-floor commercial space given over to the public realm enabling the width of the walkway to be increased by over 50 per cent to 3.8 metres.
John Griffiths, the leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “Today, we have reopened a walkway and dramatically improved it. It is more than 50 per cent wider at ground floor level, while the clever design with the second archway from Cornhill and the glass windows of the commercial units makes the space much lighter and brighter. What’s more, we hope that it will not only prompt further improvements from neighbouring landowners but also benefit businesses and people in the town.
“I would like to thank all involved and especially our town centre businesses represented through Our Bury St Edmunds and the Arc as well as shoppers and visitors, for their patience and support during these works.”
Once complete, the redevelopment itself delivers 12 new apartments and two commercial units.
Sarah Broughton, the council’s cabinet member for Resources and Property, said: “As we move closer to completion on this exciting redevelopment, the reopening of Market Thoroughfare now enables prospective business tenants and people interested in buying the remaining apartments, to see more of the redevelopment in its splendour. We have some significant interest in the commercial units while we are pushing for a completion date so we can also finalise the sale of the apartments with nine of the 12 currently under offer.”
As well as widening Market Thoroughfare, the redevelopment keeps and brings back into use, the Victorian front to Cornhill, while a new frontage has been created onto St Andrews Street South, in what is hoped will prove a catalyst of private landowners and developers to further enhance the street scene.
The new building is environmentally friendlier than the old Post Office building. It has been built with enhanced energy efficiency in mind including new windows, solar panels and an air source heat pump
Throughout the project, the council has sought the input from representatives of town centre groups including the Bury Society, Bury St Edmunds Town Trust, Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District, the Arc, Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership, Bury St Edmunds Town Council and Suffolk County Council.