[Source: Suffolk County Council]
Work on a major expansion of the Foxhall Recycling Centre near Ipswich is set to begin.
How Foxhall Recycling Centre will look on completion of the £7.8 million redevelopment. (Picture: Suffolk County Council).
RG Carter Ltd has been appointed by Suffolk County Council as contractor for the £7.8 million project, with work scheduled to start on October 17.
The new design will increase capacity for cars on site, reduce queuing and improve access from Foxhall Road, and provide greater capacity to meet future growth.
The site will have a raised level construction, giving better access to the containers for users without the need for stairs.
Containers can also be emptied without the need to close the site.
The funding includes £794,414 from East Suffolk Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy collected from new housing developments in the East Suffolk area.
Work is scheduled to complete in early 2024 and the site will remain open to the public during construction.
RG Carter will work alongside Concertus Design and Property Consultants on the scheme.
The project will be conducted in phases to keep the centre operational throughout the build, but at certain times this may result in fewer booking slots being available to the public.
The Re-use shop will change location in the new layout and will need to be closed for a period early next year to allow this to take place.
The project will also see the installation of a feeder lane from Foxhall Road, making access into the site safer.
Of the 11 recycling centres around the county Foxhall accounts for 19% of recycling and waste, collecting more than 12,500 tonnes a year.
Councillor Richard Smith, Cabinet member for Economic Development, Transport Strategy and Waste, said:
“This is a significant investment in Foxhall recycling centre that will bring benefits to its users for many years to come.
“Whilst the centre will remain open during work this will be a complex project which will, inevitably, result in some disruption at times, so I would ask the public to be patient while improvements are being made.
“Foxhall is the busiest recycling centre in the county, so once complete this really will be a flagship site for Suffolk residents.”
Councillor James Mallinder, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for the Environment, said:
“We are committed to making it as easy as possible for residents to dispose of their waste correctly, so it is fantastic to see Community Infrastructure Levy funds – which we collect from developers – support these essential improvements.
“Once completed, the work will help ensure the site is more user-friendly, accessible, and safe for everyone.
“Caring for the environment is one of East Suffolk Council’s priorities and making the right choices when it comes to disposing of our waste makes a really positive contribution towards dealing with our climate concerns.”
Jake Betts, Contracts Manager for RG Carter said:
“We are looking forward to working with Suffolk County Council to deliver the much-needed redevelopment work required to help improve wider infrastructure at Foxhall Recycling Centre, whilst supporting the council’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and recycling.”
Paul Smith, Contract Manager for site operators FCC Environment said:
“As one of the UK’s leading Recycling Centre operators, with over 100 under our care, we are excited to be part of the team designing and now building this much-improved facility.
“We are confident it will make it easier for the public to reduce, reuse and recycle materials and will allow us to achieve ever higher recycling rates.”
For more details about the scheme go to the Suffolk Recycling website.
