Demolition works are due to start ahead of the construction of a new recycling centre in Ipswich.
Suffolk County Council has announced its intention to begin works on the new centre in Whittle Road in early summer.
It will see the majority of buildings on the former Ipswich Borough Council depot site demolished, ahead of the construction of a new two-storey welfare building and conversion works.
Once completed, it would replace the existing recycling centre at nearby Portman’s Walk.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said: “We’ve been searching for many years to find a new, viable site to upgrade Ipswich’s public recycling facilities – I’m delighted that we can now deliver.
“The centre’s new home on the Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate will be a significant improvement for recycling for the town and the surrounding area.
“As we’ve seen from the county council’s new sites at Foxhall Road and in Haverhill, we have great templates to make recycling easier and safer for residents.”
The design will include similar features to the council’s new-look sites in Foxhall Road and Haverhill, including a raised platform to dispose waste from, negating the need for steps.
A one-way system and easy-to-use layout will also provide improved access.
The facility will be three times the size of the existing recycling centre in nearby Portman’s Walk.
Chris Ellis, Operations Director, Waste and Recycling Division, FCC Environment, said: “We look forward to following up the successes of the newer sites at Foxhall Road and in Haverhill.
“Being able to operate a facility which is purpose-built for both residents and our teams, makes for a more efficient and safer operation for everyone involved.”
Plans for the new centre were approved by Ipswich Borough Council in early 2025.
An estimated opening date for the new facility has yet to be revealed, although the council has previously said it anticipated the project to take between 12 and 18 months to complete.
