Ed Sheeran bids to convert barns at £1.1million 17th century farm into 'music archive'

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:01, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 00:10, 6 August 2026 Ed Sheeran wants to convert six historic barns at his £1.1million farm dating back to the 17th century into storage space for a 'music archive'. The chart-topping singer bought the 400-year-old Grade II listed farm close to his 16-acre home in Suffolk two years ago.  Sheeran, 35, recently won permission from Mid-Suffolk District Council to convert a 19th century piggery and barn into music studios.  Now he wants to renovate six adjoining barns dating back from as early as 1870 and which currently lie in ruins. A planning application states this will be for 'storage/archive' purposes.  Documents submitted to the local authority state: 'The proposed use of the outbuildings is storage/archive space for the owner/family only and there will be no additional vehicles, lighting, equipment installed.' After taking pre-planning advice he dropped plans to link the barns to the main farmhouse, but has promised to repair all the buildings, insert new windows, doors, staircases and retain 'as much of the original fabric and form of the outbuildings as possible'.  The application adds: 'As a result the rural character of the outbuildings will be retained and the impact on the wider landscape is considered to be low.'  Ed Sheeran (pictured in Los Angeles in November 2025) wants to convert six historic barns at his £1.1million farm dating back to the 17th century into storage space for a 'music archive' Sheeran, 35, recently won permission to convert a 19th century piggery and barn into music studios - and is now bidding to renovate adjoining barns dating back from as early as 1870 The council's ecology team has asked for the implementation of bat and bird boxes for sparrows, starlings and swifts, as well as bee bricks, green or brown 'living' roofs to 'support diverse habitats' and 'hedgehog friendly fencing'.  The highways department has also given the green light as long as there is a construction management plan and the public right of way running through the farm is not obstructed.  Sheeran produced an ecology report by Liz Lord, that describes a low possibility of flooding and says it would be a 'positive impact' overall to the historic farm.  The report says: 'The main ethos of the proposed development is to reinstate the outbuildings in their original form – this will be achieved by restoring the partially deteriorated/collapsed elements to the form, scale and design of the original buildings.' After being given the green light to turn the other outbuildings into music studios, renovation work has been slow. Builders are having to use hand tools and take special measures due to the presence of protected Great Crested Newts, also requiring a licence.  Sheeran has also promised to create a 'species rich, flowering lawn' with 19 different species of flowers and 12 fruit trees.  The Daily Mail earlier this week quoted an insider as saying: 'Ed has huge plans for the property and is taking his time to ensure the end result is exactly what he wants. Sheeran, seen performing in Amsterdam in October 2021, added the farm two years ago to his property empire A planning application states conversion of the barns will be for 'storage/archive' purposes 'Each building will have a purpose, he's very particular about that, and it's all part of his masterplan to create the ultimate music hub. 'There won't be anything of its kind anywhere in the world - and it'll be right on his doorstep.' Sheeran lives a short distance away in his residential Suffolk property nicknamed 'Sheeranville', with wife Cherry Seaborn, 34, and their two children, five and four.  He bought the 17th-century farmhouse two years ago and initially focused on redeveloping the main barns, turned into a recording studio and rehearsal space. He also converted a former piggery into a man cave with a bar, gym, pool table and bowling alleys – costing £150,000 to install. Sheeran has built up an eye-catching property empire as well as adding to his chart success that currently includes nine UK No1 albums and 14 UK No1 singles. As well as 'Sheeranville' and his music complex, he owns a £20million Notting Hill mansion in west London and an £8.25million office building in Soho. He owns at least 22 properties across London's most sought-after areas including Covent Garden, Battersea, Kensington, Chiswick and Whitechapel – as well as a villa in Italy, which comes with its own vineyard. His planning application states: 'The rural character of the outbuildings will be retained and the impact on the wider landscape is considered to be low' The singer lives with wife Cherry Seaborn, 34, and the couple's two children, five and four - the couple are pictured here at the BRIT Awards ceremony in London's O2 Arena in February 2022 Most of Sheeran's homes were bought through Maverick Properties, the company he set up in 2015 with manager Stuart Camp. Ed's loyalty to home county of Suffolk was shown last Thursday when he was named one of the ambassadors backing Ipswich's bid to become City of Culture 2029. The singer said: 'This town has shaped who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and it has an incredible community spirit. 'That's why Suffolk and Ipswich will always be where I call home.' Sheeran started his career playing gigs in the county and has played a number of surprise gigs in Ipswich, including an acoustic set on the waterfront in June. He added: 'Arts and culture should be accessible to everyone, and I know this title would help create even more opportunities for people in the local area. Let's do all we can to make it happen.'