A bungalow in County Tyrone has been demolished after it emerged the property had been built without planning permission.

The building of the Corvanaghan Road house in Cookstown was unauthorised despite owner Patrick Quinn having applied for retrospective planning permission.

This, however, was refused and planners ordered the demolition of the half-built bungalow.

The Planning Service said the case demonstrates that it will not grant planning permission on all retrospective cases.

A Planning Service Enforcement Officer, said: “Although the owner, Mr Patrick Quinn, made a retrospective planning application for the bungalow, planning permission was refused as it did not integrate into the countryside and would result in a build up of development when viewed with existing buildings.

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“The application was also contrary to PPS14 (Planning Policy Statement 14: Sustainable Development in the Countryside). Following the refusal of planning permission, an Enforcement Notice requiring the demolition of the partially constructed bungalow issued on 13 September 2006. Mr Quinn appealed the Enforcement Notice on the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC).”

The Enforcement Notice was upheld by the Commission on 3 May 2007 giving Mr Quinn 60 days to comply with the Enforcement Notice.

A recent site inspection confirmed that the dwelling has now been demolished.

The Enforcement Officer explained: “We usually seek the co-operation of the developer when a breach of planning control has been identified but when this is not forthcoming, we are committed to having unacceptable breaches rectified by whatever means available under planning legislation.

“In this instance, the dwelling was clearly unacceptable and the owner’s co-operation in reacting quickly, saved on public resources. Failure to comply with such a Notice could have resulted in the developer facing a maximum fine of £30,000.”

(JM/SP)