Farm shop and petting farm at Site adjacent to and 50m NE of 70 Dooish Road, Dromore
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Fermanagh And Omagh Planning Committee on 20 May 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought a farm shop, animal petting farm, children’s play area and parking.
“This is a full application for a proposed farm shop, animal petting farm, kids play area and parking.”
Officer report
Earlier applications and enforcement
A dog play area application remained under consideration, while an enforcement investigation concerning the land was deferred.
“Application Number: LA10/2024/1058/F - Proposal: Retention of dog play area with associated parking. Under consideration.”
“The Council has an ongoing enforcement investigation underway in respect of a breach of planning control on these lands. Enforcement action has been deferred pending determination of the current application.”
Officer report
Why officers recommended refusal
Officers considered that the new buildings did not cluster with the farm group and would harm visual amenity and rural character.
“1) The proposal is contrary to Strategic Policy SP01 - Furthering Sustainable Development, DE03 – Sustaining Rural Communities and IB05 – Farm Diversification as the proposal does not cluster, consolidate and integrate with the existing group of farm buildings and the character and scale of operation adversely impacts on its location.”
“3) The proposal is contrary to Strategic Policy SP01 - Furthering Sustainable Development, Policy DE03 – Sustaining Rural Communities and DE05 – Rural Character as this proposal will cause detrimental change to the rural character of the area due to the lack of integration and unacceptable siting and it will be unduly prominent in the landscape.”
Officer report
Consultees’ views
DAERA confirmed the farm business history, while roads and environmental health consultees were content subject to their stated requirements.
“DAERA has confirmed that a Category 1 Farm Business Id was issued in 1993 and has been claiming payments through the Basic Payment Scheme or Agri Environment scheme in each of the last 6 years.”
“FODC Environmental Health Service has advised it is content subject to conditions. No suggested conditions have been included in their response.”
Officer report
Support for the proposal
The agent and a supporting MLA said the proposal was modest, safe, economically useful and suitably connected to the farm.
Members’ debate
Members disagreed with the officers’ interpretation of the farm-group policy and considered the location appropriate because of safety and the site’s relationship to the farm.
“The Principal Planning Officer advised that planning policy did not permit development located away from the existing farm group. He stated that Officers considered the proposed development to be significantly removed (more than 100m), and visually prominent within the landscape.”
“The Principal Planning Officer reiterated that the relevant planning policy did not permit new buildings to be located away from the existing farm group. He restated that Officers considered the proposal to be sited outside the farm group but confirmed their willingness to work with the applicant to identify a more policy-compliant location within the field closer to, but not within, the farm group.”
Minutes
The committee’s decision
The committee unanimously approved planning permission and delegated authority to attach conditions to planning officers.
“RESOLVED: On the proposal of Councillor McCann, seconded by Councillor Devine Gallagher, and unanimously agreed, that the above application be approved planning permission, and that powers to attach conditions be delegated back to Planning Officers. (”
Minutes
The members' reasons
“While it was ultimately a matter for Members, he noted that alternative, policy-compliant sites may be available on the farm holding and he confirmed that Officers were willing to engage with the applicant and agent in this regard. 18 18 A Member considered that the proposed farm shop was appropriately located, forming part of the existing farm holding between two laneways, and the location was acceptable given the nature and layout of the land.”
“The Member further noted that, were the building to be located closer to the working farm, this could give rise to health and safety concerns due to the proximity of livestock and farm machinery.”
Minutes
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Fermanagh And Omagh Planning Committee minutes, 20 May 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Fermanagh And Omagh's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Fermanagh And Omagh
- Date
- Wednesday 20 May 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Approved, against officer advice
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Fermanagh And Omagh committee decisions →
This committee's year
62 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 8 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.