®Planning appeal decision
Hawks Mill Meadow, Hawks Mill Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8LU
Planning appeal 3358735 at Hawks Mill Meadow, Hawks Mill Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8LU (Mid Suffolk District Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 24 March 2025 by Inspector Hartley D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the period for compliance specified in the enforcement notice falls short of what should reasonably be allowed under section 174(2)(g) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
without planning permission, the unauthorised material change of use of the land from agriculture to a mixed use of agriculture and use of the land for the stationing of caravans for residential purposes; and, without planning permission, the unauthorised operational development involving the installation of a cesspit, close boarded fencing and associated entrance gates, and an area of hardstanding
- Authority
- Mid Suffolk District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Hartley D
- Postcode
- IP6 8LU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the period for compliance specified in the enforcement notice falls short of what should reasonably be allowed under section 174(2)(g) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
What decided it
The absence of suitable and available alternative Traveller sites for the occupiers, combined with their status as Romani Gypsies with protected characteristics and health conditions, justified extending the compliance period to nine months to allow them to seek alternative accommodation while maintaining a settled base, despite the significant planning harm caused.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2024
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 appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Mid Suffolk District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed2 September 20263359620Keytons Pit Newton Road, Sudbury, CO10 0PY
- Quashed On Legal Grounds1 September 20263344278Walnut Meadown, Back Lane, Baylham, Ipswich, IP6 8LE
- Dismissed28 August 20263343778Bridge Field Paddock, Green Road, Haughley, Stowmarket, IP14 3RA
- Dismissed16 March 20263356460Cagmans Farm, High Road, Great Finborough, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3AP
- Notice upheld16 March 20263348273Cagmans Farm, High Road, Great Finborough, Suffolk, IP14 3AP
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.