CAMPAIGNING TO PROTECT DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE
Protecting Devon’s Countryside Since 1926
A failed planning system, a government policy to build millions more houses than we need – of the wrong type, at the wrong price, in the wrong places – and a runaway energy policy targeting thousands of acres of our productive farmland mean that today Devon’s countryside is threatened as never before. CPRE was founded to preserve and protect the rural environment, and has been doing just that since 1926.
Devon CPRE is an independent local charity that fights to prevent poor planning and bad policies destroying the rural landscapes that are Devon’s unique heritage. We offer professional planning expertise and a wealth of experience to help our members fight inappropriate development throughout the county.
We’re funded solely by members’ subscriptions, donations and legacies.
Please join us. Please support us. Your countryside needs you.
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We fight bad planning and bad government policy that threatens Devon’s countryside
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Conservation charity slams plans for battery storage facility in Torridge
Conservation charity slams plans for battery storage facility in Torridge
www.northdevongazette.co.uk
Alverdiscott facing another battery storage facility application to add to the ‘mega cluster’ of solar farms and battery facilities proposed for nearby Woodtown
Devon CPRE Solar Farm map of Devon, we've now added in the Proposed Holsworthy Beacon Mega Solar Farm.
📢 Sign and share our petition to put a stop to this ‘unneeded, unwanted and unsustainable’ megasolar farm that would cover over 4 square miles of farmland, destroy productive land, and scar our beautiful landscape: 👉🏽 www.devoncpre.org.uk
The Holsworthy post has printed our response to the Greens, who accused us of scaremongering at the meeting regarding the Holsworthy Beacon Mega Solar Farm. Read more in the attached link below👇🏼.
“Misinformation does not mean ‘things I don’t agree with’. There was no misinformation at the meeting; we gave well-sourced facts and our opinions – clearly distinguishable – and let people make up their own minds; which they did, in huge numbers.
“Talking figures needs to be done accurately: solar panel efficiency is around 25 per cent at the maximum (a typical ‘high-efficiency’ panel offers 22 per cent energy conversion), which decays by a fifth after 25 years and produces energy in England at a capacity factor of under 11 per cent on average. All of these figures are readily checkable.
“To blame the Spanish grid for the inability to cope with the sudden unexpected non-performance of a huge renewable energy source is like blaming shopkeepers for looting.
“Most leading Green thinkers now agree with Prof James Lovelock that nuclear is the way forward for low-carbon energy. If the Green movement hadn’t spent 50 years throwing political spanners into the works of our nuclear industry, we wouldn’t be having half these problems.
“We agree that solar panels don’t leak toxic chemicals into the ground, unless they are damaged, either in operation or in removal/disposal. And that’s where we have a significant concern, as overseas investors rush to build ever more, ever bigger solar farms to mine the subsidy regime. Who will remove them when the music stops?”
Torridge Greens accuse 'Stop Beacon Solar' of 'scaremongering' over solar panel plans
www.holsworthy-today.co.uk
Stop Beacon Solar has said it is opposed to plans for a 2,750 acre solar panel projectWorking alongside the Better Planning Coalition, CPRE has helped secure key safeguards for nature and the countryside as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progresses through the House of Lords.
Sign and share our online petition against what would be one of Europe’s largest solar arrays on more than 4 square miles of farmland near Holsworthy!
We are on a mission to gather one million signatures and are urging everyone to throw their weight behind our campaign to fend off the massive development proposed for Holsworthy Beacon. Sign and share the petition at www.devoncpre.org.uk
There’s no need to cover another 2,700 acres of Devon farmland in solar panels, because the number of renewable projects queuing for connection to the grid is already more than three times the government’s Clean Power target for 2030.
Data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) shows renewable projects totalling 760GW awaiting grid connection, way above the government’s 2030 renewables target of 150 - 225GW. In other words, the Devon mega solar farm is surplus to requirement and unsustainable, says the charity.
At a packed meeting in Holsworthy attended by some 300 people, Our (Devon CPRE) Chairman Steve Crowther outlined the scale of the threat if the Beacon Solar scheme, that’s currently in the pre-application phase, progresses to a planning application.
Devon CPRE has the backing of the national charity CPRE, Torridge & Tavistock MP Sir Geoffrey Cox and a campaign group formed by local residents.
Watch our video here:
youtu.be/PDoHi_8UEhU
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/hundreds-stand-against-massive-devon-10613921
Hundreds stand against massive Devon solar farm
www.devonlive.com
A rallying call is issued to work together to fight planswww.holsworthy-today.co.uk/news/rallying-cries-in-packed-public-meeting-to-stop-beacon-solar-847154
Rallying cries in packed public meeting to 'Stop Beacon Solar'
www.holsworthy-today.co.uk
The MP promised fierce resistance
Photos from an incredible meeting in Holsworthy!
More than 300 residents filled Holsworthy Memorial Hall to show their passion and determination to protect Devon’s countryside from the massive Beacon Solar proposal.
Everyone came together to say loud and clear, "Devon’s farmland is for food, not foreign investment profits".
Huge thanks to everyone who came, spoke, listened, and signed. With your help, we’re building a powerful movement that’s already gaining momentum nationwide.
Take a look at some photos from the evening below, and if you haven’t already, add your name to the petition to stop this ‘unneeded, unwanted and unsustainable’ megasolar farm.
📢 Sign and share: www.devoncpre.org.uk
#SayNoToBeaconSolar #ProtectDevon #CPRE #DevonCPRE #CommunityPower #Holsworthy #SaveOurCountryside
More media coverage on our fight to put a stop to the proposed mega solar farm in Holsworthy.
Hundreds turn out to oppose Holsworthy mega solar farm plans
www.bbc.co.uk
People are campaigning against proposals to build one of the UK's biggest solar farms.
Did you see ITV West Country on Friday? Great coverage of our meeting in Holsworthy to voice our opposition to the proposed Mega Solar farm. 👇🏼Hundreds of people packed into a public meeting near Holsworthy in Devon to voice their opposition to plans to build what would be one of the biggest solar farms in Europe.
Developers say the Beacon Solar project - which would cover around 2,700 acres of farmland - would reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
tinyurl.com/2p9k58r9
Celebrating 100 years of protecting the countryside
This is not “saving the planet”.
This is countryside vandalism for corporate greed. Once the farmland is gone, it’s gone forever.
We've objected to the latest #battery storage application in the #alverdiscott area in #torridge north west #devon #planning
Conservation charity slams plans for battery storage facility in Torridge
Alverdiscott facing another battery storage facility application to add to the ‘mega cluster’ of solar farms and ...
www.northdevongazette.co.uk
Devon's CPRE says it will be opposing plans for a new battery storage installation at Alverdiscott
More here: https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/devon/news/more-than-40-objections-to-huge-battery-storage-site-in-torridge/
Torbay's Local Plan is still out for consultation - closing date 26th January. There's still to make your views known! #torbay #devon #localplan
New Year, new Local Plan consultation for Torbay
Council seeks public views on key issues shaping Torbay over the next 20 years
www.torbayweekly.co.uk
2026 is a momentous year for Devon CPRE because it marks 100 years since the foundation of our national organisation @CPRE Here in #Devon, we are blessed to have some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world. Will you help us protect them?
Wiltshire Council has stressed its opposition against plans to build one of this country's largest solar farms near Malmesbury, with the council leader calling it 'a horrendous carbunkle'. If given the go ahead, the proposal would see the solar farm cover an area four miles wide
Some of Britain’s best farmland is being lost to solar farms, as Ed Miliband’s solar blitz will cover up to 100,800 hectares of countryside by 2030: a similar landmass to Bedfordshire. The Energy Secretary's ideological dash to hit net zero targets means risking Britain's food
We're opposing latest #planning application for 140 dwellings on green fields at Ottery st Mary #eastdevon #devon #otterystmary #development #housing
Plans to build homes in Ottery St Mary outskirts spark concerns
Devon CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) is objecting to the proposed development in Ottery St Mary.
www.sidmouthherald.co.uk
Become a member
Devon CPRE is a charity sustained by its members. By joining, you’ll not only support our campaigns to defend Devon from bad planning decisions, but also join the many thousands of CPRE members across the nation who are committed to celebrating, protecting and enhancing England’s incredible rural environments. Here’s what you get:
Individual Membership: £60 a year (only £5 a month)
Household/Group/Organisation Membership: £84 a year (only £7 a month)
Workshops & Events
Free places at our regular Planning Workshops and other events during the year
Planning Advice
Access to expert planning guidance and support when you need it
Exclusive Resources
Member-only offers, documents and materials to help you deal with planning and countryside issues as well as getting the most out of your membership
Updates & Bulletins
Stay informed with monthly online bulletins and quarterly newsletters
National CPRE Membership
Access to the wealth of advice, information and resources available via the national charity at CPRE.org
LATEST CAMPAIGN NEWS & REPORTS
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make a difference to devon
There are so many ways you can be part of our work. Whether you choose to give, volunteer your time, or take part in one of our competitions, every action helps us protect the countryside and make it accessible for all.
Support a campaign
Our campaigns tackle the biggest challenges facing our countryside – from protecting farmland and reducing waste, to improving transport and ensuring the right homes are built in the right places.
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Whether you join us, volunteer, support a campaign or donate whatever you can afford, you make a difference and help protect our very special county.
leave a legacy
Help guarantee our work and ensure that Devon is protected for generations to come, by leaving us a lasting legacy in your will
Defend Devon – Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard
Our members and donors are vital to keeping us going, but we also need to have the loudest possible voice to influence local authorities and governments.
If you’re not yet ready to join, but agree with our aims and want Devon protected from badly-planned developments and misguided government policies, sign up as a Devon Defender. We’ll keep you informed about our work and major campaigns, and make sure your voice and thousands of others are heard loud and clear.
Thanks to Joe Ashworth, Peter Benson and Reinhold Staden for their superb professional photography of Devon’s glorious countryside.