Two rural dwellings at Lands between 14 & 18 Drumsnade Road, Drumaness

The site and surroundings

The site is an agricultural field in the countryside, with roadside beech hedging, surrounding hedges and gorse, and an undulating rural setting.

“Site Visit Report Site Location Plan: The site is located at lands between 14 & 18 Drumsnade Road, Drumaness.”

“Date of Site Visit: 20 th August 2025 & 12 th December 2025 Characteristics of the Site and Area The site comprises an agricultural field on the south side of Drumsnade Road approximately 1km south west of Drumaness village. There is a 1.5-1.8m high beech hedge along the roadside boundary. The SW boundary with No 18 comprises their boundary fence and associated hedge. A hedge and gorse defines the NE boundary with No 14.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier appeals for dwellings were dismissed, while permission for a farm dwelling was granted in 2013 but later lapsed.

“Application Number: 2004/A241 Decision: Appeal Dismissed Decision Date: January 2005 Proposal: Replacement dwelling – related to a siting condition of the approved replacement dwelling (R/2003/0995/O) – dismissed at appeal.”

“Application Number: R/2011/0635/F Decision: Permission Granted Decision Date: May 2013 Proposal: Private dwelling on a farm with domestic garage Approved under a different policy context – CTY10 dwelling on a farm – limited places to site the farm dwelling as it needed to be clustered and visually linked with the buildings at No 18. Permission has since lapsed.”

Officer report

Why officers advised refusal

Officers considered the gap too large for infill, creating ribbon development and harming the area’s rural character through the proposed shared access.

“The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) had in its decision letter; taking account of the elevated siting proposed and the need to remove frontage vegetation for sight splays, the Commission judges that it would not be possible for the proposed dwelling to achieve satisfactory integration into the landscape.”

“As discussed above the proposal is not considered to be an exception to CTY 8 and would therefore result in creation of ribbon development. Further to this the two infill dwellings intend to share an access point. Provision of this would be at odds with dwellings in the immediate area and would represent an arrangement typical of an urban setting, not appropriate within this rural context.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Environmental Health and DFI Roads raised no objections, with DFI Roads requiring an RS1-compliant submission; no neighbours submitted support or objections.

“Environmental Health – no objections DFI Roads – No objections subject to RS1 form…”

“Objections & Representations In line with statutory requirements neighbours have been notified on 11.08.2025. The application was advertised in the Mourne Observer on 23.04.2024 (Expiry 08.05.2025). No letters of objection or support have been received to date.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent supported the application, arguing that it was suitable infill, would retain hedging and would respect the rural setting.

The vote

A motion to overturn the refusal recommendation and approve the application passed unanimously, with nine votes for and none against.

“Councillor Hanna proposed to overturn the recommendation to an approval, stating that he believed the application satisfied the exception requirement of CTY8, was sustainable development in the countryside given the retention of the hedge, would integrate well within the area, would not result in suburban development and he was content that DFI Roads had no objections. This was seconded by Councillor Rice.”

“AGREED: On the proposal of Councillor Hanna, seconded by Councillor Rice, it was agreed to issue an approval in respect of planning application LA07/2025/0330/O contrary to officer recommendation as contained in the Case Officer Report.”

Minutes

The committee decision

The application was approved contrary to the officer recommendation, and officers were authorised to impose relevant conditions.

“It was also agreed that Planning Officers be delegated authority to impose any relevant conditions.”

Minutes