A new ambulance hub on the edge of Bury St Edmunds has officially opened. 

The East of England Ambulance Service's new hub off Fortress Way was opened on Friday, September 27, with a tour and ceremony which included the planting of a tree by Robert Rous, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk. 

The new 2,900msq hub at Suffolk Park has been described as being "purpose built to meet the demands of a modern ambulance service" and the ambulance trust says it has a "strong focus on staff wellbeing".

The hub cost an estimated £10m to create.

The hub off Fortress WayThe hub off Fortress Way (Image: Lucy Taylor) EEAST CEO Neill Moloney with one of the ambulancesEEAST CEO Neill Moloney with one of the ambulances (Image: Lucy Taylor) The tree planting event at the hubThe tree planting event at the hub (Image: Andy Marshall)

The facility is large enough for 33 ambulances to be stationed there and comes complete with a fully integrated vehicle repair workshop and vehicle preparation area.

Other areas inside the building include welfare spaces like a quiet room, multi-faith room, nursing room and a gym for crew members to use.

Training facilities at the hubTraining facilities at the hub (Image: Lucy Taylor) Vehicle workshop facilities in useVehicle workshop facilities in use (Image: Lucy Taylor) Steve Purdy and Will Aldis at the hubSteve Purdy and Will Aldis at the hub (Image: Lucy Taylor) It is installed with smart technologies including over 1,000msq of photo-voltaic panels, with the aim that a significant proportion of the expected energy demand will be met through the renewable energy generated on site.