Mid Ulster planning officers have postponed a decision on a proposal to create a raised patio at 40 Ranfurly Road, Dungannon after an independent civil and structural engineer concluded that a recently constructed retaining wall at the property is unsafe.
Site inspection raises safety concerns
The planning application, submitted by Margaret Clarke, sought permission for a raised patio with a retaining wall and an extension to an existing boundary wall. Councillors were told at the council’s planning meeting on 7 July that a report commissioned by the neighbour who objected to the works set out serious structural shortcomings.
“In my opinion, the wall is unsafe and it poses a risk to the personal safety of anyone in your garden.”
The engineer’s inspection, carried out as part of a site visit on 24 April 2026, recorded specific measurements and observations about the newly constructed portion of the boundary wall between numbers 38 and 40 Ranfurly Road. A council report dated 9 June summarised the findings and the elected members who attended the site visit: Colin McKeown (Planning officer), and councillors Seán McPeake, Deirdre Varsani (the council chair), and Barry Monteith.
What the inspection found
The engineer’s report drew attention to the wall’s dimensions and construction:
- Maximum height: 3.3m above garden level
- Retained fill: 1.5m
- Wall thickness: 150mm (exposed portion)
- Unrestrained length: final 5.8m appears unrestrained
Inspectors also noted construction defects demonstrated by the neighbouring objector during the visit: the ability to "put a shovel under the foundations", the wall being built over a manhole, irregularities in the blockwork where pieces of timber were visible, and an alignment that did not appear straight.
| Item | Reported measurement / observation |
|---|---|
| Maximum height | 3.3m above garden level |
| Retained fill | 1.5m |
| Exposed wall thickness | 150mm |
| Unrestrained length | 5.8m |
Enforcement limitations cited by council
Although the extension to the boundary wall was unauthorised, planning officers have told councillors that the council’s ability to require demolition or other enforcement measures is restricted because the structure appears to have been built more than 12 months ago. The planning report recorded that the objector had raised concerns about safety and workmanship, which prompted the site inspection and the subsequent deferral of the planning application while the issues are considered further.
The case highlights the tension between retrospective planning control and public-safety issues where unapproved work is discovered after it has been in place for a period that limits some enforcement options. Local residents and anyone using neighbouring gardens may expect the council and relevant authorities to keep them informed about the next steps and any protective measures while the matter remains under consideration.
Further updates will be published once the council provides its next report or takes any formal action arising from the engineer’s findings.
