AN ENGINEERING firm's unauthorised workshop at the centre of a seven-year planning dispute has been recommended for approval in a "u-turn" by officials.
Concerned residents described it as a "nightmare" and urged councillors to dismiss the retrospective planning bid.
In 2010, Reid Engineering was granted permission for an extended workshop in a rural area outside Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
But the building constructed is more than a third larger than agreed, more than double what it was supposed to replace – and is alleged to encroach on an objecting neighbour's garden.
The site on Knockanroe Road has been the subject of numerous planning enforcement probes.
Last year Mid Ulster council issued an enforcement notice demanding demolition and rebuilding in accordance with the intended design.
Planners had previously rejected the retention application, but have now recommended it for approval. It will be considered by the council's planning committee on Tuesday.
Supporters say Reid Engineering, which specialises in steel products, is important to the local economy.
Resident Carla Fowley, who lives beside the engineering works with her husband and three teenage children, said she is "amazed at the U-turn".
"I can't understand it. We have been following this case from the very start and every bit of planning policy that we have read has given reasons why this should be refused," she said.
Julie Reid (43) – no relation to Reid Engineering's owners – said her family has been forced to move further away, as the noise is particularly distressing to her eight-year-old son Danny who has autism.
"We are shocked at the turnaround. Now all of a sudden, the neighbours don't matter," the mother-of-two said.
"We have had to move out of our home. My wee boy, he wouldn't go outside. He wasn't sleeping and it was affecting him at school.
"They had put up big floodlights and the were shining through the bedroom windows. During the day the lorries are loading and unloading – it's horrendous."
An application to replace a previous shed was first submitted in 2010.
Residents said they received assurances that it would be 'like for like' in size and height, and so did not object at the time.
According to documents, planners had asked for its description as a 'replacement' building to be changed to 'extension' in the application, but it was not re-advertised.
Mrs Fowley said: "In 2010 if the correct information had been made available this nightmare scenario would not be happening now."
The 42-year-old also claimed the unauthorised building encroaches on her land by almost 9ft (2.7m).
"It's overbearing – it dominates your life. You hear the noise from first thing in the morning," she added.
Appealing to councillors, she said: "Do the right thing. Any right-thinking person would have this as a refusal."
In the council report recommending approval, a planning official says the building is not significantly larger than what was approved in 2010.
He says the plans will not affect nearby residents "to any greater a degree than present operations", and mitigation measures will improve issues such as noise.
The report also notes that planners received many letters supporting Reid Engineering and its "significant contribution to the local economy".
The 2010 plans were for a building with a floorspace of around 3,400 square feet (320m sq), but instead a building of around 4,600 square feet (428m sq) was constructed.
Further applications also seek an increase to more than 8,800 square feet (819m sq) – over four times the original workshop.
Reid Engineering did not respond to requests for a comment.
