A farm in Creeting St Mary has applied to rent out a former pig barn to help raise much-needed income, with warnings about the future of the farm.

Foxes Farm, located to the east of the village and nine miles from Ipswich, is largely focused on arable crops like wheat, barley, and sugar beat.

The 1,375 square metre steel framed building was originally used for pigs, but owner R L Baker says it is no longer economically viable with cuts to government support and market uncertainty.

Making a formal application for change of building use on behalf of its client, Landbridge Property Advisers said: “The farm needs to diversify and generate alternative income streams in order to maintain its viability and allow for future investment. This is particularly the case due to reducing government support and increasing price volatility, linked with the reduction, and ultimate demise, of Basic Payment Scheme subsidy payments.

“The farm is currently faced with a considerable loss of income and the generation of non-agricultural income is critical to ensuring its overall viability.”

While the application does not specify which business will rent the building, it would be used for business or distribution purposes.

But the owner insists that there would be no change in vehicle numbers, given existing HGV movement into the farm to move pigs.

Access to the farm is from the A140 along an existing concrete farm roadway.

A consultation is now underway.