A SUFFOLK householder who built an enormous storage hanger on her land without planning permission has been ordered to pay more than £1,300 by Sudbury Magistrates' Court.

A SUFFOLK householder who built an enormous storage hanger on her land without planning permission has been ordered to pay more than £1,300 by Sudbury Magistrates' Court.

Yvonne Miller of Humble Green, Little Waldingfield, near Sudbury, built a 450 sq. metre concrete slab onto which a commercial storage building was added.

After being subsequently refused planning permission and receiving an enforcement notice from Babergh council, Miller appealed against the decision.

The Inspector ruled that both the hangar and the slab were inappropriate within such a rural setting and needed to be removed. After a six month wait during which time neither the building nor the slab had been removed, Babergh took out a prosecution against Miller for failing to comply with the earlier enforcement notice.

Once proceedings commenced the hangar was removed, although the slab remains intact.

Sudbury Magistrates' fined Miller £1,000 with £320 costs.

John Winders, Babergh's Principal Development Control Officer, welcomed the outcome.

He said: “This huge building flew in the face of both local and national planning policies relating to the location of commercial properties and the preservation of the countryside.

“We believe that this is yet another example to those in the Babergh district who think they can get away with flouting planning rules designed to protect our precious countryside. Think carefully before you act - it could be a very costly mistake you are making”.