Quarry extraction time extension at Lands 130M North of 120 Feegarran Road, Cookstown
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Mid Ulster Planning on 6 Jan 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought ten more years to complete the approved sand and gravel extraction before final restoration.
“LA09/2025/0723/F ACKN Development Management Officer Report Committee Application Summary Committee Meeting Date: January 2026 Item Number: Application ID: LA09/2025/0723/F Target Date: October 2025 Proposal: The original Planning Permission for gravel extraction at this location was granted under I/2004/1062/F with a further approval in 2015 (I/2013/0307/F) which contained a time limit on extraction ( Condition no. 2) up to 30/07/25.”
“July 2015 Description of Proposal The original Planning Permission for gravel extraction at this location was granted under I/2004/1062/F with a further approval in 2015 (I/2013/0307/F) which contained a time limit on extraction (condition no. 2) up to 30/07/25. Due to the economic difficulties before, and during, Covid, the extraction rate on these lands was severely affected.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site is an existing rural quarry near Feegarran Road, surrounded by agricultural land, dwellings, farmsteads and Davagh Forest.
“Characteristics of the Site and Area The site is located at the existing Stanley Bells and Sons Quarry, 28 Ballynagilly Road, Cookstown. The site is access from the main quarry access, located at the junction of the Ballynagilly Road and Ballynasolus Road. The site is situated approximately 5.5 miles North West of Cookstown. The surrounding land use is a mixture of agriculture, interspersed with individual dwellings and farmsteads.”
Officer report
Why officers recommended approval
Officers considered that the extraction area would remain unchanged, environmental impacts would not increase, and the previously approved restoration plan would continue.
“Should an approval be granted for a further 10 years for this extraction it is my view that there would no increased risk for the environment from that of previous approvals. Policy MIN 2 – Visual implications The landscape sensitivity in this area is considered medium. The potential landscape impact is moderate/minor and visual sensitivity is considered low.”
“The overall planning policy context remains as previously considered for this proposal variation and I don’t anticipate that the environmental impacts of the proposal as originally assessed are altered by an extension of 10 years to the completion of excavation.”
Officer report
The committee vote
Councillor Buchanan proposed approval and Councillor Cuthbertson seconded it; the committee resolved to approve the application subject to conditions.
“Resolved That planning application LA09/2025/0723/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.