BY ADRIAN MULLAN

a.mullan@ulsterherald.com

THE Planning Service in the Western area has been inundated with planning applications following a High Court Ruling, almost three weeks ago, that PPS14 was unlawful.

A spokesperson for the Planning Office said, "Over 700 new applications for single dwellings in the countryside have been received since Mr Justice Gillen gave his judgement on September 7. Most of these are in Omagh Division, including Fermanagh, where more than 500 have been received – equivalent to the total number of applications of all types received in the Division in the previous month."

That massive increase is raising concerns for what environmentalists are saying could become a 'bungalow blight'.

However, despite the ruling of the High Court, there are few signs, as yet, that the restriction on single dwellings is being urgently reviewed at the coal-face.

Local politicians had come under intense pressure from constituents to have the measure binned because of its 'blunt instrument' approach to building in the countryside. However, whereas PPS14 may be all but finished, environment minister Arlene Foster looks likely to come under pressure from groups like 'Friends of the Earth' to prevent a building free-for-all in the countryside.

Omagh Council took the judicial review that saw the measure ruled out by Justice Gillen but even before the ruling, the local planning office was said to be working to full capacity. In addition to the new applications, planners face the prospect of having to properly re-assess, under the 'old rules', all of those planning applications for which the department accepted payment on the eve of PPS14.

Following the results of the judicial review, the environment minister seemed to be adopting a narrow interpretation of the Judge's comments, which then prompted Omagh District Council to urge the minister to actually read the ruling.

A Council spokesperson said, "The minister has failed to note the final paragraph of the judgement, where Mr Justice Gillen ruled that the decision to introduce PPS14 was unlawful and ultra vires.

"The council has been advised that all that remains to be decided by the judge is the form of the final order and the question of costs.

Judge Gillen is due to issue the wording of his order in relation to PPS14 in the High Court later today (Thursday).