Suffolk County Council and its waste and recycling partner FCC Environment are proposing to relocate the Portman’s Walk Recycling Centre to a new location, currently occupied by Ipswich Borough Council’s operational depot on Whittle Road on Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate.
The proposal is to redevelop the current site to a split-level recycling centre that will help to future proof the town’s recycling needs. The new site is designed to make access for residents easier as well as to maximize the recycling of household waste.
The benefits of this scheme would be:
- A brand new, purpose designed facility created with site users in mind
- A raised mezzanine platform to provide residents with an elevated position from which to safely dispose of waste
- An easy-to-use layout allowing residents to access clearly marked recycling bays
- Eliminate any need for queuing on the highway
- Removing the need to close the facility to service the containers
- Improving accessibility and increasing capacity
- Introducing greater separation between public vehicles and larger vehicles
Residents are now invited to share their views on the new proposed site by emailing waste.management@suffolk.gov.uk before 11 March 2024.
A planning application will then be submitted later in the year. Following that, an application will be submitted for an Environmental Permit with the Environment Agency and work will begin on a more detailed design.
There will be further opportunities for residents to give feedback as the project progresses.
The current site at Portman’s Walk will stay operational until the new site is opened.
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Skills, Transport Strategy and Waste, said:
“This new facility is needed to overcome an increase in demand at Portman’s Walk, which is only set to increase with the forecasted housing growth in the area, and which has resulted in congestion and delays to the local road traffic network. This new design would allow for more capacity and increase the number of booking slots available to residents.
“We are now offering residents a chance to have their say at an early stage of the process before we seek planning permission in 2024/25.”
More information about the proposal, including FAQs, is available here: https://suffolkrecycling.org.uk/recycling-centres/recycling-centre-developments/proposed-development-of-a-new-recycling-centre-for-ipswich
