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Planning appeal decision

Notice upheld12 March 20263357418

Vale Farm The Common, Metfield, Harleston, IP20 0LP

Planning appeal 3357418 at Vale Farm The Common, Metfield, Harleston, IP20 0LP (Mid Suffolk District Council) was dismissed on 12 March 2026 by Inspector Pleasant L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development is located in a suitable location having regard to local and national planning policies.

Retrospective Application: Change of use of existing farm buildings to a commercial use under Class B8 of the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended). Summary

Authority
Mid Suffolk District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector
Pleasant L
Postcode
IP20 0LP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the development is located in a suitable location having regard to local and national planning policies

What decided it

The development complies with Policy LP09 of the Joint Local Plan, which permits the conversion of existing agricultural buildings for small-scale employment use in rural areas, and is consistent with NPPF support for sustainable rural business growth.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy LP09Policy SP05Policy SP03Saved Policy E11
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 88Paragraph 89Paragraph 80

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Mid Suffolk District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Dismissed8 September 20266010228
    Land East of 52 Exeter Road, Claydon, Ipswich, IP6 0BP
  2. Allowed5 August 20266007731
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  3. Dismissed16 June 20266006315
    Orchard House, Cocks Road, Eye, IP23 7NT
  4. Allowed22 October 20253369566
    Fennings Farm, Pixey Green, Stradbroke, Eye Suffolk, IP21 5NH
  5. Dismissed1 August 20253361001
    Barn at Moat Farm, Barrells Road, Great Green, Thurston, IP31 3SH

The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.