®Planning appeal decision
Hawks Mill Meadow, Hawks Mill Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8LU
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
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.
Plan policies cited: Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2024
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.