Building work on our brand-new Ambulance Hub in Bury St Edmunds has officially completed and is getting ready to welcome ambulance staff from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).
Robert Rous, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, opened the hub on Friday 27 September 2024 in front of invited stakeholders and partners.
The 2,900 m2 facility has been designed to be a future-proof Ambulance station with a fully integrated vehicle repair workshop and vehicle preparation area to support the frontline operational team.
The Hub, which became operational in September, has space for 33 ambulances, and includes in-house training facilities to support the team.
Staff wellbeing is at the heart of the design, and the Hub has several welfare spaces for staff including a quiet room, multi-faith room, nursing room, a gym and outside wellbeing spaces for relaxation, socialising, and exercise.
The aim is to create a work environment that supports the Trust’s goal to attract and retain the highest calibre of staff.
The facility has been designed to support the Trust’s net zero carbon ambition, making it the most sustainable and lowest carbon site in the Trust’s Estate.
The Ambulance Hub has smart technologies installed, including over 1,000m2 of photo-voltaic (“PV”) panels, with the aim that a significant proportion of the expected energy demand will be met through the renewable energy generated on site.
These measures will radically reduce the carbon emissions and footprint of the facility, with the scheme designed to achieve BREEAM certification of “Excellent” and an EPC rating of A+.
Kate Vaughton, interim Chief Executive at EEAST, said: “We are excited that work has completed on the purpose-built ambulance hub on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds.
“This hub has been designed to fulfil all the needs of a modern-day ambulance service and into the future.
“A strong focus of the hub is on our people’s wellbeing as we recognise the importance of creating a great working environment to recruit and retain staff.”
Ashley Seymour, Development Director, said: “We are delighted to bring this exciting project to completion and hand it over to the Trust. The whole process through from design, planning and construction has been a team effort and we are thrilled with the result."