Work on £18m Stowmarket Innovation Gateway complete

Construction work on a “transformational” state-of-the-art skills and innovation centre at Gateway 14, in Stowmarket, is complete – and it is ready to open its doors this summer.

Mid Suffolk District Council’s Stowmarket Innovation Gateway will offer office spaces for high growth start-ups, collaboration and innovation areas, meeting rooms, a café and high-quality training spaces.

The project was made possible thanks to a Freeport East agreement to provide £16.66 million to the project, with the remaining costs being provided by Mid Suffolk District Council.

Richard Winch, the cabinet member for Housing and Property at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: “This is such an important facility and the building looks fantastic.

“From the very get go, this has been an incredibly exciting project with the prospect of attracting and supporting innovative businesses and entrepreneurs, not only for the benefit of Stowmarket, but the wider region.

“This centre was designed with growing sectors such as the green economy and digital/AI technology and I very much look forward to seeing what businesses who make use of the Stowmarket Innovation Gateway, achieve over the coming years.”

Steve Beel, the chief executive for Freeport East, said: “Freeport East is delighted to see the completion of the Stowmarket Innovation Gateway and congratulate all the partners involved.

“The centre will offer a rich and dynamic working environment with deep links into local AI, agritech and sustainable construction expertise.

“Tenants are able to access freeport tax reliefs and a range of support programmes and networking opportunities that are unique in the region and come from being a central part of the Freeport East model.”

Property developer, Jaynic, worked with Gateway14 Ltd and Wilten Construction to deliver the three-story building, which sits at the heart of Gateway 14 business, innovation and logistics park adjacent to Junction 50 of the A14.

The project has also been delivered in partnership with Universities of Suffolk and Essex, West Suffolk College, Suffolk New College and Colchester Institute who will be delivering a programme of professional development courses to address the region’s skills gap.

Representatives from organisations involved attended a ceremony on Friday, May 15, to formally handover the new building.

It will be operated by Hethel Innovation, which provides innovation growth support to hundreds of businesses across East Anglia.

It already manages three innovation hubs in Norfolk – Hethel Engineering Centre, Scottow Enterprise Park and Broadland Food Innovation Centre – stimulating regional economic growth by supporting the creation of over 1,500 jobs.

Sir Christopher Haworth, the chair of Gateway 14 Ltd, said: “Reaching practical completion of the Stowmarket Innovation Gateway at Gateway 14 marks a major milestone in delivering a centre designed to drive innovation and to develop the skills needed for the green economy.

“This facility will provide businesses, educators, learners and occupiers with the space and resources to collaborate, build expertise, and accelerate sustainable growth.

“It represents a significant investment in the future of the Eastern Region and will play a particularly important role in supporting opportunity, ambition and prosperity across Mid Suffolk.”

Gateway 14 is already home to a 1.17 million sq ft logistic and distribution centre for The Range, a distribution centre for Ipswich based Bauder and factory for Assan Panels, both manufacturers of eco-friendly construction materials.