Sand and gravel extraction extension at 250M Due South of The Junction of Cavanoneill Road and Keenaghan Road Cookstown
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Mid Ulster Planning on 6 Jan 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought to extend sand and gravel extraction by varying the condition requiring it to end on 30 June 2025.
“LA09/2025/0674/F ACKN Development Management Officer Report Committee Application Summary Committee Meeting Date: January 2026 Item Number: Application ID: LA09/2025/0674/F Target Date: October 2025 Proposal: Permission to develop land without compliance with Condition No.”
“This application proposes non-compliance with Condition 2 (duration of development) attached to Planning permission ref I/2011/0156/F for the extraction of sand and gravel, passing bays and restoration of the site. Condition 2 of I/2011/0156/F reads as follows: Extraction shall be for a limited period only, and shall cease on or before 30 June 2025. Reason: To limit the duration of the development in the interests of amenity.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site is pasture with hedges, scrub, a derelict farm building and marshy ground, located south of two road junctions.
“Characteristics of the Site and Area The site is located 250m due south of Cavanoneill Road and Keenaghan Road. It is located approx. 9km due west of Cookstown and 2.5km due south of Cookstown to Omagh Road. The site encompasses an area of pasture, boundary walls and hedges, gorse scrub, a derelict farm building and a marshy area. The site is mainly grazed by cattle, as is the surrounding area.”
Officer report
Earlier permission and enforcement
Sand and gravel extraction was approved in 2015, while an earlier enforcement case concerning reported breaches remained open.
“Site History:I/2011/0156/F – Approval granted 08.07.2015 for ‘extraction of sand and gravel, passing bays and restoration of the site…”
“LA09/2020/0081/CA – Previous enforcement case for several reported breaches and non compliance with conditions of I/2011/0156/F – No closed. Advertisements – 08.07.2025 Neighbours notified: Cavananeill Road, 84A, 84, 86, 88 & 95 Knockaleery Road. No objections have been received to date.”
Officer report
Why officers recommended approval
Officers considered that the slower extraction rate justified five more years and that the proposal would not increase environmental, drainage or flooding impacts.
“However the intention is to reinstate the lands to agricultural grazing pasture. Therefore with the exception of the extraction disruption the long term impacts on the land will be minimal. According to the submitted info due to a range of factors this previously permitted extraction has not been extracted at the anticipated rate as was expected hence why this application to extend the extraction period by 5 years has been submitted.”
Officer report
What members discussed
A councillor welcomed greater information about historical issues connected with extraction sites and the opportunity to consider wider issues.
“Councillor Varsani wished to have it noted at this point that there were another few extraction sites later in the agenda. The member stated that one related to minerals rights and felt that it was very welcome that we were beginning to get more information about historical issues connected with extraction and similar things and wished to state that this was very welcome to get the opportunity to reflect on the broader issues that were connected to such sites.”
Minutes
The committee’s decision
The committee approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the officer recommendation.
“Resolved That planning application LA09/2025/0674/F be approved subject to conditions as per the officer’s report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Mid Ulster Planning minutes, 6 January 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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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Mid Ulster Planning
- Council
- Mid Ulster
- Date
- Tuesday 6 January 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- 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
120 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 8 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.