Farm dwelling and garage at Approx 30m North-East of 212 Crockanboy Road, Greencastle

The site and surroundings

The site lies in the countryside within the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about 30 metres north-east of an existing property.

“Characteristics of the Site and Area The proposed site is located approx 30m North-East of 212 Crockanboy Road, Teebane West, Greencastle, Tyrone, BT79 7RT. The proposal is located within the countryside and with the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty according to the Local Development Plan: Plan Viewer 2030.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier applications concerned a 33kV power line involving overhead and underground connections serving the Curraghinalt mine.

“Planning Application Number: LA10/2019/1386/F Decision: Decision Date: Proposal: 33kV power line involving both construction of above ground 33kV overhead line supported by wooden poles and underground 33kV cable laid below ground level in ducts, to serve Curraghinalt mine (currently under consideration planning application LA10/2017/1249/F).”

Officer report

Why officers advised refusal

Officers considered the site visually prominent, poorly integrated, insufficiently clustered with the farm group and harmful to the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“The site for the new dwelling must be visually linked or sited to cluster with an established group of buildings on the farm holding unless the farm activities would significantly affect the amenity of the new dwelling or there are verifiable plans to expand the farm and there are no alternative sites at another farm group on the farm.”

“The farm group is located 230m northeast of the proposed site. It is considered that this distance is too far to cluster and consolidate with the site. The farm dwelling is located 70m southwest of the site, which also is considered not to visually link/ cluster and consulate with the site.”

Officer report

What the supporting speaker said

The supporting agent said the site was part of an active holding, visually linked to existing buildings, safely located and capable of integrating into the landscape.

Members discuss alternatives

The planning officer said more suitable sites could exist within the holding, while a member proposed time to explore alternative options before issuing the decision.

“The Principal Planning Officer stated that the agent and Planning Officers had presented their interpretations of policy and while precedent is often raised, each site must be assessed individually and what matters is consistency in policy interpretation across decisions.”

“A Member stated that there had been several cases recently were early discussions between Planning Officers, applicants and agents to explore alternative sites before applications came before the Planning Committee would have been beneficial.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The majority agreed to hold the application for two weeks under the committee protocol.

“RESOLVED: On the proposal of Councillor O’Reilly, seconded by Councillor McClaughry, and agreed by the majority, that the issuing of 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