Farm dwelling and garage at Lands Approx 145M N of 19 Timaconway Road, Kilrea
Summary of planning committee decision
Deferred by Mid Ulster Planning on 7 Jul 2026.
The site and surroundings
The site is a 0.49-hectare part of an agricultural field in open countryside, with hedges, trees, farm buildings and nearby dwellings.
“…of the Upperlands settlement limit as defined in the Magherafelt Area Plan 2015. The site encompasses a 0.49 hectare area, corner portion of an agricultural field. The site sits in a slight dip within the field and is set back approximately 50 metres from the main Timaconway Road. Existing site boundaries include semi-mature hedgerow along the northern and eastern edges of the site, with scatterings of mature trees along the same.”
Officer report
Officers recommended refusal
Officers found the dwelling too prominent, although the proposal met other relevant policies, including the policy for farm dwellings.
“The proposal meets all other relevant planning policy, including those relevant policies within PPS 2: Natural Heritage, PPS 3: Access, Movement and Parking, as well as Policy CTY 10 (Farm Dwellings) of PPS 21: Sustainable Development in the Countryside.”
Officer report
The design concern
Officers considered the two-storey side annex would add to the dwelling’s prominence and said the proposal failed two countryside policies.
“Policy CTY 13 provides that planning permission will be granted for a building in the countryside where it can be visually integrated into the surrounding landscape and it is of an appropriate design.”
“The changes in the design from the original proposed design in October 2024 to the latest amendments provided in February 2026 can all be viewed at end of this report. The agent was informed on 18/02/26 that the latest amendments showing the increase of the side annex from single storey to two-storey was unacceptable in terms of adding to the dwelling’s prominence in the landscape.”
Officer report
Members discussed a site visit
Members sought clarification that the two-storey side extension was the remaining design issue and suggested visiting the site.
“Th HSP asked for clarification in that the only offending part of the design now is the side extension over two stories.”
“The HSP stated that there have been a number of these design issues in recent times and that he hoped Members have found site visits useful in these type of cases. The HSP suggested that Members undertake a site visit for this application to understand how the house will sit into the landscape.”
Minutes
The site visit proposal
The Chair proposed a site visit and Councillor Varsani seconded the proposal.
“The Chair, Councillor Bell proposed a site visit be arranged.”
“Councillor Varsani seconded Councillor Bell’s proposal.”
Minutes
Application deferred
The application was deferred so the committee could undertake a site visit.
“Resolved That planning application LA09/2024/1187/F be deferred for a site visit.”
Minutes
Sources
- Mid Ulster Planning minutes, 7 July 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Mid Ulster's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Committee
- Mid Ulster Planning
- Council
- Mid Ulster
- Date
- Tuesday 7 July 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Deferred
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Mid Ulster committee decisions →
This committee's year
264 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 35 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.