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Dismissed2 July 20266006355

Laurel Farm, Sandy Drove, Lakenheath, IP27 9GT

Planning appeal 6006355 at Laurel Farm, Sandy Drove, Lakenheath, IP27 9GT (West Suffolk) was dismissed on 2 July 2026 by Inspector L Francis, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether there is an essential need for a rural worker's dwelling at the appeal site.

farm workers self-build dwelling

Authority
West Suffolk
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Hearing
Development
agricultural
Inspector
L Francis
Postcode
IP27 9GT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether there is an essential need for a rural worker's dwelling at the appeal site
  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the countryside

What decided it

The failure to demonstrate an essential functional need for a full-time rural worker's dwelling at the appeal site.

The moderate weight given to the self-build family benefit and limited weight to security, livestock supervision, landscaping and economic benefits were outweighed by conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy and rural workers' dwelling policy, and by harm to the character and appearance of the countryside.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SP12Policy LP15Policy LP12Policy SP4Policy LP9
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 84Paragraph 135

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 West Suffolk

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

  1. Allowed29 June 20266007055
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  2. Allowed17 June 20266004217
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  3. Dismissed11 March 20266002107
    85 Kings Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3DS
  4. Allowed12 December 20253371739
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  5. Allowed25 September 20253361490
    Land West of Saxham Business Park, Off Newmarket Road, Risby, IP28 6RX

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.