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.
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Giant Devon data centre plan sparks fears of ‘insane’ water usage
Farmers fear a proposal to build Britain’s largest AI hub will strain local supplies and blight the landscape.
The Telegraph have covered the Data Storage plans...Read more below
Giant Devon data centre plan sparks fears of ‘insane’ water usage
www.telegraph.co.uk
Farmers fear a proposal to build Britain’s largest AI hub will strain local supplies and blight the landscape
This is excellent news for Devon's countryside.
We are delighted that Torridge District Council's Planning Committee has refused planning permission for the proposed 99.4MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at West Webbery. The planning officers had recommended approval.
We welcome this decision and are pleased that councillors listened to the many well-founded concerns expressed by us and the local community.
Protesting against the 99.4MW BESS on 12 acres at West Webbery, on the agenda today at Torridge District Council planning committee today.
Don’t forget that tomorrow, 2nd July, Torridge District Council planning committee will be deciding whether to grant permission for the 99.4MW BESS at West Webbery. The planning officer has recommended approval. There is already a growing cluster of solar and battery installations in the area, taking up over 700 acres of farmland. See our map.
For 100 years, Devon CPRE has been the only independent charity with the professional planning expertise to challenge inappropriate developments and poor planning policies that threaten our countryside.
As an independent charity, we rely entirely on memberships, donations and legacies.
If you care about Devon's future, one of the most powerful ways you can help is by becoming a member of Devon CPRE. As an independent charity, CPRE Devon relies entirely on membership subscriptions and donations to fund our campaigning and advocacy work. Your support enables us to continue to scrutinise planning applications, influence planning policy, represent local communities and ensure that people's voices are heard throughout the planning process.
Together, we have a much stronger voice.
Join today, and help protect Devon's countryside for future generations.
Become a member: cpredevon.org.uk/join-us
Please share this message and help us reach others who care about Devon's future.
Thank you, North Devon Gazette, for covering this for us.
‘Utter horror’ at giant data centre plans for heart of North Devon countryside
www.northdevongazette.co.uk
Proposals for an 850-acre multi-billion ‘Devon data campus’ and energy storage facility near Torrington from Morocco energy pipeline company Xlinks have provoked a strong reaction from objectors
Groundswell of incredulity at proposals for a massive AI data centre in the middle of the north Devon countryside.
- 850 acres in total with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) occupying 96 acres
- Twice the size of the largest AI data centre so far approved in the UK
- In open countryside
- 5 huge buildings, 40m (130 ft) high – about the height of the towers of Exeter Cathedral
Devon CPRE and Devon residents have reacted with incredulity this week as details have emerged about proposals for an 850-acre AI data centre, together with associated battery storage, on farmland between Great Torrington, Huntshaw and Weare Giffard.
The proposals were presented by Xlinks, the company behind the stalled Morocco-UK Power Project, at a public meeting at Great Torrington Town Hall on Thursday 25th June and in a private online meeting with representatives of Devon CPRE, the only local charity that campaigns to protect Devon’s countryside from inappropriate and unwanted development.
Thursday evening’s public meeting, independently chaired by Sir Geoffrey Cox KC, Member of Parliament for Torridge and Tavistock, was the first opportunity for local people to find out more about Xlinks’ proposals for its Devon Data Campus. So many people attended the meeting that many were unable to gain entry.
What’s been ascertained so far about the proposed Devon Data Campus:
1. The site would cover a total of 850 acres with five separate huge buildings at a height of 40m, nearly the height of Exeter Cathedral’s towers.
2. The 1800 MW BESS containing lithium-ion phosphate batteries would cover 96 acres.
3. The industrial-scale development would be twice the size of the largest AI data centre campus to be granted outline approval in the UK to date.
4. The proposed site has multiple landowners and 10% of it would be Grade 3a farmland; the rest mainly 3b.
5. IT load 1.5GW. Peak site load 1.8GW.
6. Xlinks intends to submit two separate planning applications to Torridge District Council in October (one for the AI data centre and one for the BESS).
7. If approved, construction is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2034.
8. Xlinks has never built an AI data centre before.
The largest AI data centre approved in the UK so far is in North Lincolnshire. The Elsham Tech Park development, put forward as part of a wider Northern Lincolnshire AI Growth Zone, would occupy about 176ha (435 acres) next to Elsham Wolds Industrial Estate. This Devon one would be almost twice as big and right in the middle of the countryside.
Director of Devon CPRE, Penny Mills, who attended an informal meeting with Xlinks, says, “I think most people who live in northern Devon would be dumbstruck to discover that anyone can think it’s at all suitable to build a massive AI data centre and gigantic Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) within Devon’s rolling hills and verdant valleys. We weren’t at all reassured by what Xlinks’ team told us, quite the contrary. We believe this will be an unnecessary, unsuitable, unsightly blot on the landscape, visible for miles around. How can a development of this size with 40 m high buildings possibly be screened?
“Xlinks claims it will result in 650 – 1,200 on-site permanent jobs, but in our view that doesn’t justify such wanton destruction of the countryside and we don’t believe that will be the case, as these data centres are highly automated operations. Our understanding is that they provide surprisingly few permanent on site jobs once they are built. We also have serious concerns about the huge amount of water that will be needed to cool the servers and the noise they will generate. From our meeting it emerged that Xlinks think that some rainwater will be used for cooling and that they are ‘aiming’ for no additional noise above background at the site boundary.
“Devon CPRE has already been deluged with comments from members who are justifiably extremely concerned about a gargantuan, water-guzzling, industrial development, including a large Battery Energy Storage System, with the fire risks BESS entail, slap bang in the middle of north Devon’s green hills. We will be formulating our response to the project over the coming weeks, as these plans develop, but our initial reaction is one of utter disbelief and horror. Does anyone at Torridge District Council even have the expertise to decide on a development like this, with the potential to have a disastrous impact on the environment and people’s lives? “
Beyond this week’s meetings, Xlinks says it will be holding a series of Public Information Days across the area from 14 to 17 July, with a consultation open until 11 August, during which people can examine the plans, raise questions and respond directly. Full details are available at devondatacampus.com
Penny adds, “Devon CPRE has decades of experience in complex planning matters. We are the ONLY organisation in the county who does, and we know that to effectively fight such an enormous project needs a professional, coordinated approach. We hope people who are concerned about this will get behind us and join as members so we can ensure their voices are heard.”
To become a member and support the work of Devon CPRE, visit cpredevon.org.uk/join-us/
cpredevon.org.uk
Join us, for Devon’s sake What Do I Have To Do? As a member, you have the choice. You don’t have to do anything: but...
As part of its celebration of CPRE's centenary, Devon CPRE sponsored the inaugural Edward Capern Festival in June 2026.
Watch our video of the event below.
The successful two-day event was held in the village of Heanton Punchardon, where North Devon's 'Postman Poet' is buried in the churchyard.
The festival began with an evening of poetry and music, telling Edward Capern's life story, and concluded with a reading of the winning poems in the first-ever 'Postman Poet' competition.
Devon CPRE campaigns to protect Devon's countryside and rural life. To support our work, go to: www.cpredevon.org.uk
youtu.be/0HtQ46sI6Oo?si=0awjqIC6UvbXAUSB
www.cpredevon.org.uk
CAMPAIGNING TO PROTECT DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE FIGHT THE PROPOSED DEVON MEGA-SOLAR SITES Help us save 2,700 acres of prime farmland at Holsworthy; 279 more acres at...
📢 Have Your Say on the Proposed Devon Data Campus - Public Meeting Thursday 25 JUNE, 6pm, Great Torrington Town Hall
We've just heard about this public meeting! We will be attending, and we encourage anyone interested in the proposals to attend too.
Xlinks is proposing to develop a large AI data centre and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on greenfield land near Alverdiscott in North Devon. This will be an important opportunity to hear directly from the developers, ask questions and better understand the potential impact of the scheme.
The meeting will be independently chaired by Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP.
📍 Great Torrington Town Hall
📅 Thursday 25 June
⏰ 6:00pm
Further Public Information Days will be held between 14–17 July, with the consultation remaining open until 11 August.
Find out more: www.devondatacampus.com
#DevonCPRE #ProtectDevon #PlanningMatters #NorthDevon #DevonCountryside #HaveYourSay
Have you seen the latest edition of Devon Life Magazine? There is a fantastic 4-page spread about the CPRE Centenary, 4-page splash entitled 'Protecting Paradise'. Pick up July's edition to have a read.
Edward Capern Festival & The Postman Poet of the year Competition – 4/5 June 2026
How can anyone honestly think this massive AI datacentre and BESS proposal is acceptable in Devon's countryside? #datacentre #battery #devon #northdevon #torridge @NoFarmsNoFoods @CommunityPlann1 @Geoffrey_Cox @NetZeroWatch
Concerns over 'gargantuan' data centre plan for Devon countryside
Xlinks says it would provide all the AI computing power to help Devon lead digital growth in the UK - with up to 1,200 'high-quality jobs'
www.devonlive.com
Utter horror & disbelief at massive AI data centre & BESS proposed in #northdevon #countryside. 850 acres farmland, 130ft tall buildings, 96 acres of battery storage. #devon #datacentre #battery #torrington @Geoffrey_Cox @CommunityPlann1 @KathrynPorter26
https://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/utter-horror-at-giant-data-centre-plans-for-heart-of-north-devon-countryside-8767814
Have you heard there's a massive #datacentre & #Battery System proposed in the #countryside in #northdevon #torridge The developer, xlinks, has organised a public meeting tomorrow, 25th June, at 6pm in Great Torrington Town Hall. The meeting will be chaired by @Geoffrey_Cox
Dartmoor ponies are part of the heritage of #Dartmoor and must be protected, as must the livelihoods of all those grazing livestock on the moor. Natural England must rethink their plans. #dartmoorponies @ponykeepersDTMR #ponies #devon @dartmoornpa
Row over potential cull of Dartmoor hill ponies https://bbc.in/44acvPZ
Residents in village of East Allington in the South Hams, #Devon strongly oppose the Reserved Matters application from Baker Estates, for more houses than they were given outline permission for! Protect green fields! #southhams #planning @CommunityPlann1
https://www.cpredevon.org.uk/?p=6980&preview=true
Application for Battery Energy Storage System in Woodbury, East Devon receives 161 objections, including our own!
#eastdevon #devon #woodbury #bess #battery #planning
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fury-grows-161-objections-lodged-230400552.html
Large new housing scheme proposed in Brixham in the South Devon National Landscape is the wrong development in the wrong location. #Devon #Brixham #Torquay #planning #housing @CommunityPlann1 @SouthDevonNL
Fury as plans lodged for 175 homes on protected Brixham farmland - Devon Today
The charity that campaigns against unwanted and inappropriate development across Devon has submitted a comprehensive obj...
devontoday.com
Devon solar farm and other North Devon renewable energy generators shut down to avoid grid overload. We've been warning of such eventualities for years!
#devon #northdevon #solarfarm @BBCDevon @itvwestcountry @WMNNews @Geoffrey_Cox @KathrynPorter26
Devon solar farm shut down to avert grid overload - CPRE Devon
Power ‘shut down’ at Derril Water Solar Park and other North Devon renewable generators to avert grid overload ...
www.cpredevon.org.uk
Happy Devon Day! Celebrating our beautiful county. #devonday #happydevonday #lovedevon #devon
Calling all poets! Could you win the top prize of £500 in the inaugural Edward Capern Postman Poet of the year competition. Come along to the festival on 4/5 June. #northdevon #devon #barnstaple #heantonpunchardon #poetry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzENrXUVSzg
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)
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Free places at our regular Planning Workshops and other events during the year
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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
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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
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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.