Go-ahead for new homes near Broughderg refused

THE Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has rejected an appeal against the refusal to grant permission for the construction of six new homes in a scenic area of Tyrone.

It had been proposed that the new homes be built on the Davagh Road near Broughderg, located within the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Beaghmore Area of Special Archaeological Interest and an Area of Constraint on Mineral Development.

It had been hoped to build a small ‘clachan style’ development on a parcel of land, which is part of a large agricultural field at the crossroads of the Davagh and Broughderg Roads.

However, Mid Ulster Council, which is the planning authority for the area, ultimately refused the application. Last month, an appeal hearing was held by the PAC at which Mid Ulster Sinn Féin MLAs, Francie Molloy and Linda Dillon, were among those in attendance as third parties.

It was argued at the hearing that the proposal would not be suitable at the site, and that other locations would be more appropriate.

Commissioner Stevenson for the PAC concluded that the proposed dwellings would break the skyline from certain viewpoints, and that the porposal would be ‘unduly prominent’ in the Sperrins AONB.

The commissioner said the adverse impacts of the proposed development within the AONB location would outweigh the degree of compliance with a number of planning policies.

Mid Ulster Council’s reasons for refusing the application were upheld as a result.