South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge has urged the people of Sudbury “seize the moment” and back a fresh bid to redevelop the town, which he believes will be central to restoring the local economy to good health. In particular, he is stressing the need to use millions of pounds in funding from Suffolk County Council to move Sudbury bus station to a new site – without which he fears regeneration will continue to remain dormant. The facts:
- In December, Suffolk County Council was awarded £26m from the LABG (Local Authority Bus Grant). Crucially, this includes capital funding, which can be used to “improve bus stops and stations”.
- Previous attempts to regenerate the derelict Hamilton Road Quarter in Sudbury – and potentially unlock millions of pounds in economic growth – have foundered on the need to find public money to move and upgrade the bus station, without which it would likely be much harder to mobilise private investment
- With Suffolk County Council elections now going ahead in May, the issue of Sudbury’s economic future is once again an issue, with the Conservatives’ local manifesto promising “a new bus station for Sudbury”, funded from the LABC award to Suffolk CC.
- It should be stressed that the LABC funding is not dependent on the local election results; this is central Government funding already awarded and allocated to Suffolk. Rather, the issue concerns how to prioritise where it is spent.
James Cartlidge MP says: “Sudbury is a lovely town but faces the kinds of challenges to the health of its high street that are familiar up and down the country. At the same time, our economy is struggling and vacancies are drying up, which is extremely worrying – particularly for young people starting out in life. In my view, the best way to restore local economic strength would be to deliver an ambitious regeneration of Sudbury’s town centre.
“Of course, much has been said about restoring our town over the years, with many steering groups and plans being assembled and drawn up. But there has been very little progress and the sticking point has always been – a lack of funding to move the bus station, and in a way that continues to deliver an effective bus service for the town. We now have that opportunity, with £26m of public funding to bid into. This is funding that has to be spent on bus services in Suffolk and, in my view, whoever forms the new Council administration should prioritise those bids with the strongest economic return, as would be the case in Sudbury.”
Cartlidge went on to say: “To be clear, private finance to deliver new shops and housing would still be the main funding route to regeneration of our town, but we have to be realistic and accept such significant investment is going to be hard to mobilise for the Hamilton Road Quarter whilst it is next to a working bus station. At the same time, we also have to continue delivering a good bus offer in Sudbury, and any bid would need to involve detailed consultation with all stakeholders – including the district and town councils – on where a new site could be effectively located.
“Nevertheless, whatever our views on this matter it must be obvious that nothing meaningful has happened for years, and the stagnant status quo is not delivering – particularly for our local economy and job creation. It’s time to be bold, and I’m delighted that the Suffolk Conservative manifesto promises to deliver a new bus station for Sudbury. But whoever is successful in May, I would be delighted to work with them to ensure this money is invested in our town”.
NB: for planning reasons, it would not be possible at this stage to specify an exact location for a new bus station, and likewise, that means the exact value of any bid is impossible to quantify, but it is understood that the capital part of the LABG is often undersubscribed and the scale of cash on offer suggests a pot of ‘some millions’ could be brought forward – IF there is the political will to back regeneration and redevelopment in Sudbury.
BACKGROUND
Following this announcement in December 2025, the Suffolk Conservatives’ manifesto which launched on 7th April - ahead of local elections in May - promised to use millions of pounds to “build a new bus station for Sudbury”. It includes plans for a new bus station in Sudbury, aimed at improving transport links whilst also creating an opportunity to redevelop a key site in the town.
Sudbury is the largest town in South Suffolk and continues to serve as an important centre for industry, retail, leisure, and hospitality. However, in common with many Market Towns, it has faced increasing pressure in recent years as shopping habits have changed, with the move towards online retail accelerating during the pandemic.
A key part of the proposal is the relocation of the existing bus station from Borehamgate in the Hamilton Road Quarter. Relocating the station would allow the Borehamgate site to be brought forward for redevelopment, with the potential for a mix of retail, commercial, leisure, and residential uses, building on earlier proposals such as the town’s Levelling Up bid in 2021.
The changes are expected to improve access to the town and strengthen its appeal to both visitors and investors.
The proposal forms part of a wider programme of work to support Sudbury’s future, with a focus on maintaining a strong and active town centre for residents, businesses, and visitors.
