The Planning Appeals Commission has rejected a proposal to build five homes on Tullynagardy Wood, an ancient woodland near Newtownards. The ruling upholds an earlier refusal by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Local resident Terry Lyons said the decision ends a campaign stretching back to 2002. He noted that developers were represented by a King’s Counsel and a team of planning and environmental experts, but the independent commissioner agreed with objectors.

Mr Lyons praised councillors for their unanimous vote against the scheme. He also highlighted the scarcity of ancient woodland in Northern Ireland, where only 0.2 per cent remains, and said the outcome was a positive step for nature.

John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, welcomed the decision but stressed it showed ancient woodlands need stronger legal protection. He said the Trust is campaigning for tighter legislation to prevent similar speculative appeals in the future, calling the habitat irreplaceable.