Off-site farm dwelling at Approx. 240m Northwest of 84 Stralongford Road, Trillick

What was proposed

The application proposed an off-site dwelling and garage on an active farm holding.

“Proposed Development The proposal is for an off-site farm dwelling.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

An earlier application for a dwelling site was refused in 2011.

“Planning History Application Number: K/2007/0723/O Decision: Permission Refused Decision Date: April 2011 Proposal: Proposed site for dwelling…”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers found that the proposal failed policies on farm dwellings, rural development, landscape integration and rural character.

“Reason 2: Policy DE04 - Integration and Design of Development in the Countryside and Policy DE05 - Rural Character…”

“Given the elevated nature of the site and the lack of any sense of enclosure the proposal will result in a prominent and obtrusive feature in the landscape when assessed from views along the Feglish Road, contrary to criteria (d) of DE04 and criteria (a) of DE05. The prominence and lack of enclosure means a new building would cause detrimental change to the rural character of the area and would be unduly prominent in the landscape.”

Officer report

The alternative site

A site about 90 metres from the farm group was identified as suitable and meeting the policy tests, although the agent raised practical concerns.

“During the processing of this application, an acceptable site, approx. 90m Northwest of the farm group, was presented to the Agent. This suggested site clusters or visually link with the established farm buildings, it has a mature boundaries and would be considered the closest possible site to the farm buildings, that visually integrates on its own merits and as such would meet the Policy tests of HOU11 and the Plan Strategy.”

“However, this alternative site is considered suitable and a new house could be developed on the plot. This site is a suitable alternative which meets all policy tests.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

NI Water raised no objection, DFI Roads was content subject to conditions, and DAERA confirmed the farm business history.

“The proposal requires the alteration of an existing access to a public road therefore DFI Roads were consulted. DFI Roads are content subject to conditions.”

“DAERA were consulted confirming that a farm business Id was allocated in May 2015 and the farm business claimed payments through the Farm Sustainability Payment or Agri Environment scheme in each of the last 6 years.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in support, arguing that mature hedgerows, trees and landform would screen and integrate the dwelling.

What members discussed

Officers maintained that the site did not visually link or cluster with the farm group and lacked boundaries, while members considered further discussions.

“In response to comments from the agent, the Senior Planning Officer advised that his presentation included a combination of Google Street View images from July 2025, and photographs taken during a recent Officer site visit and he emphasised that site visits were undertaken for all applications presented to the Committee.”

“The Lead Planner advised that the proposed dwelling would be located approximately 240 metres from the existing farm group and, in Officers’ view, did not visually link or cluster with the established buildings as required by policy and insufficient information had been submitted to justify any exception that would permit an off-site location.”

Minutes

The application was held

Members agreed to hold the decision for two weeks so officers and the applicant or agent could discuss possible alternatives.

“A Member proposed that the application be held for a period of two weeks as allowed in the Planning Committee Protocol to allow discussion of potential alternative options with the applicant/agent and this was seconded by another Member.”

“RESOLVED: On the proposal of Councillor McClaughry, seconded by Councillor O’Reilly, and unanimously agreed, that the issuing of a decision on the above application be held for a period of two weeks as allowed in the Planning Committee Protocol to allow discussion of potential alternative options with the applicant/agent. (”

Minutes