Ed Sheeran gets approval to restore barns for music archive in Suffolk
The singer will use the historic Grade II-listed buildings to store his recordings, demos, and memorabilia.
Singer Ed Sheeran received planning approval in October 2026 from the Mid Suffolk District Council to restore six deteriorating barns on his historic Suffolk farm. According to the Times of India, the project aims to create private storage and archive space for his music collection, including recordings, artwork, and instruments.
The restoration will focus on returning the 19th-century outbuildings to their original form. Planning documents state that partially collapsed or deteriorated sections will be repaired according to the original scale, design, and appearance of the structures. Sheeran intends to add windows, doors, and staircases where necessary while preserving the historic character of the Grade II-listed site.
This project follows previously approved plans to convert an old piggery on the estate into recording studios. The application noted that no additional lighting, equipment, or vehicles will be installed, maintaining the low-impact nature of the private development.
Work on other parts of the site has been slow due to the use of hand tools and the presence of protected great crested newts. Sheeran has pledged to create a species-rich flowering lawn with 19 types of flowers and to plant 12 fruit trees to improve biodiversity.