CAMPAIGNING TO PROTECT DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE
Fight the proposed Devon AI Data Centre and BESS
Help us protect 850 acres of North Devon’s precious farmland from an AI Data Centre and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
FIGHT THE PROPOSED DEVON MEGA-SOLAR SITES
Help us save 2,700 acres of prime farmland at Holsworthy; 279 more acres at Alverdiscott; and 147 acres at Talaton, East Devon
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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A monster of a threat looms over the Devon countryside, and we, Devon CPRE, working in tandem with local activists, are doing all we can to stop a massive AI data campus and battery energy storage system (BESS) being built between Weare Giffard, Huntshaw and Great Torrington.
CPRE was founded 100 years ago to see off threats to the countryside following the exponential rise in motorised transport and is now arguably facing its biggest fight yet. England is seeing a huge increase in applications for data centres. Our countryside risks becoming a dumping ground for these massive, resource-intensive developments, and because of recent changes to planning rules, some decisions about data centre developments could bypass local councils and communities entirely.
The Devon branch of the charity, having campaigned for decades against unwanted developments like solar and wind farms on productive farmland, is now up against its own ‘AI monster’ and needs your help to stop it taking over a huge swathe of prime farmland with devastating implications for the environment, ecology and wildlife and people’s health and quality of life.
The Devon Data Campus proposed by the developer Xlinks would consist of 750 acres containing five hyper-scale AI data centres, huge buildings up to 130 feet tall, housing around 120,000 computers operating day and night. Alongside this, a 96-acre battery park, consisting of at least 1,700 containers holding up to 16 million lithium-ferrous-phosphate batteries. Where will this campus be sited? Unbelievably, on an unspoilt hillside within direct sightline of the historic town of Great Torrington and highly visible for miles around.
The BBC has already reported that such a development will put North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere status at risk. That’s just one potential effect of this ill-thought-through plan, which Devon CPRE first heard about three months ago, although we now know that discussions between Xlinks and Torridge District Council have been taking place for far longer.
The Government has identified five ‘AI Growth Zones’ nationally - Teesside, Lanarkshire, the former Ford plant at Bridgend in South Wales, the area of North Wales close to the Wylfa Small Nuclear Reactor site, and Culham in Oxfordshire, alongside the Atomic Energy Authority, are the chosen locations. All are former industrial areas in need of regeneration or have strategic co-location advantages. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t one of them, but Xlinks wants it to be designated as one. Following the release of documents by Torridge District Council under Freedom of Information rules, the local residents’ Action group has ascertained that the developer wants the Government to designate this area of Northern Devon as one of its Growth Zones. This would bring advantageous conditions for the project and also encourage more data centres to co-locate in the area.
The FOI documents also show that Torridge District Council is being pressed to designate the proposed data centre site as suitable for development in the local authority’s emerging Local Plan.
Neither of the above can be allowed to happen because these are the potential effects if this development gets the go-ahead:
1. The loss of 850 acres of world-class, food-producing Devon farmland
2. Huge changes to the local environment, ecology and wildlife
3. Water consumption - up to 2.9 billion litres of water a year to cool the servers
4. Audible and low-frequency inaudible noise which can affect health
5. Major fire and chemical risks from batteries overheating
6. A massive blight on the landscape affecting our tourism industry
7. Construction traffic and disruption over many years
We are supporting the Action Group (Devon Data Centre and BESS Action Group), including providing 15,000 leaflets, 900 correx boards, and spending the summer months campaigning from our stand at four country shows across Devon. As an organisation with 100 years of experience dealing with the planning system, we are well-placed to take up the fight.
Our short film about our Say No campaign has already been viewed more than 54,000 times. Help us reach even more people by sharing this YouTube link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Qu0tyGPMY&t=3s
By standing together, we can stop this AI data centre and BESS from being built. So, don’t delay, join our Register of Objectors to help reinforce our case when the plans are considered by Torridge District Council in early 2027. We will keep you informed on how this massive plan progresses, and when and how to register your objections with Torridge District Council.
To become a Registered Objector, visit www.DevonCPRE.org.uk, call us on 01392 966737, email us at director@cpredevon.org.uk or write to Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy EX21 5XN giving your name and address.
Let others know about this vital campaign and become a member of Devon CPRE if you care about Devon's countryside. Join us today at www.cpredevon.org.uk
We are a charity and rely solely on memberships, donations and legacies.
(Registered Charity No. 1175228)
Our fight against the Devon Data Monster continues!
Earlier this summer, we were out and about at agricultural shows across Devon, raising awareness of the proposed AI Data Campus and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on hundreds of acres of open farmland near Torrington.
We were heartened by the incredible support we received, with so many people visiting our stand, signing our petition, becoming members and sharing their concerns about this enormous development and other threats to Devon's countryside - thank you to everyone who's been involved.
We're resharing our short film as a reminder of why this campaign matters and why your support is so important. We've had over 54K views already!
The fight is far from over, and we need your help!
As an independent charity, Devon CPRE relies entirely on memberships, donations and legacies to fund our work. Your support enables us to employ the expertise needed to scrutinise planning applications, challenge inappropriate developments, represent local communities and ensure people's voices are heard.
👉 Become a member and help us protect Devon's countryside: www.cpredevon.org.uk/join-us/
📢 Concerned about the proposed AI Data Campus and BESS? Join our Register of Objectors to stay informed as plans develop. We'll let you know when it's time to submit an objection and provide guidance to help you make your own personal representation: devoncpre.org.uk/data-centre-and-battery-field/
Together, we have a much stronger voice. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us in protecting Devon's countryside! 💚
#DevonCPRE #DevonDataMonster #ProtectDevon #DevonCountryside #Torrington
youtu.be/u-Qu0tyGPMY?si=7fGbJEuYBnCQaY_y
Great coverage from BBC News of the dismissed appeal in Axminster, following a campaign by us, Devon CPRE and the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group.
Appeal for major energy storage system in Devon rejected
www.bbc.co.uk
Plans for the battery system site near the Devon-Dorset border have again been dismissed.
Fantastic news just in today.
The appeal for the 80MW Battery Energy Storage System on land at Newlands Farm, Raymond’s Hill, Axminster has been dismissed.
This is a very important decision and the second BESS appeal dismissal in the area in the last few months. It’s another victory for people power! And should give encouragement to others opposing similar BESS proposals in the countryside.
The appeal took the form of a public inquiry held in May and June. We had objected to the proposal, supporting the local residents’ action group. The appeal decision dated today, 7th October, states that the main issues were:
• Whether the site is suitable for the proposed development taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from fire and contamination, including to public health and the natural environment, with particular regard to the water environment, and
• Whether the proposal would conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the Dorset National Landscape.
The lengthy and detailed 64 point report concludes that:
“ In conclusion, I find that whilst the benefits of the scheme would outweigh the moderate harm that would be caused to the Dorset National Landscape, they are insufficient to outweigh the very substantial, overriding, unacceptable risks in respect of pollution of the water environment including groundwater in the aquifer and human drinking water in the event of a fire and storm event, however low the probability of such a risk would be, in conflict with the development plan and the national decision-making policies of the Framework. The mitigation proposed would not be effective in ensuring that there would be an acceptable balance between harm and benefit. Accordingly, the proposal is not suitable for its location“.
Congratulations to the Hawkchurch & Monkton Wyld Action group for all their hard work. You’ve done an amazing job opposing so many proposals in the area in the last few years.
A continued and massive thank you to CPRE Devon for standing with us in this fight! A special shoutout to their Chair, Steve Crowther, who represented the cause so brilliantly on last weekend’s BBC Countryfile. Their dedication to protecting Devon’s precious countryside is inspiring. As a charity, they rely on support - so if you care about preserving our landscapes, please consider joining them today!
cpredevon.org.uk/join-us
And while you’re at it, make sure you join the army of objectors against the proposal to the ‘Devon Data Campus’
devoncpre.org.uk/data-centre-and-battery-field/
The appeal lodged following East Devon District Council’s refusal of plans for 140 new homes on land adjacent to Gerways Nurseries in Ottery St Mary has been highlighted on the BBC News website - see below.
The application (Ref: 25/2468/MOUT) was refused by the council, but the applicant has now lodged an appeal against that decision, as we mentioned last week.
Appeal against failed bid to build 140 homes in Ottery St Mary
www.bbc.co.uk
The plans are controversial with almost 600 people objecting to the development.
An appeal has been lodged in respect of the refusal by East Devon District Council of the application for 140 dwellings on land adjacent to Gerways Nurseries, Ottery St Mary. (Application ref 25/2468/MOUT). The appeal will be determined on the basis of a hearing currently scheduled for 18th November and expected to last two days. Representations can be made to the Planning Inspectorate; the deadline is 30th October. Quoting appeal ref 6013445
We had objected to the proposal. Our submission concluded that in this case, the identified harms including encroachment into open countryside, loss of BMV agricultural land, inadequate assessment of heritage significance, departure from the emerging plan-led spatial strategy and site selection evidence, unresolved design and density concerns, and landscape/visual harm arising from unjustified boundary expansion, which collectively amount to significant and demonstrable adverse impacts. These clearly outweigh the benefits of the proposal.
A disappointing decision for Devon’s countryside
We’re disappointed that Torridge District Council has permitted a 100-metre-high wind turbine in the countryside near Winkleigh.
Devon CPRE objected to the application because we believe a turbine of this scale will have an unacceptable impact on the surrounding landscape, particularly given its maximum power output of just 500kW.
We support the need for renewable energy, but believe developments must be appropriately scaled and sensitively located, with proper consideration given to their impact on Devon’s countryside.
Sadly, we don’t believe this proposal gets that balance right.
Application for 66 dwellings submitted in Thorverton, Mid Devon.
We have submitted an objection to an application for 66 dwellings on agricultural land in Thorverton.
Our submission to Mid Devon District Council concluded that the applicant has not demonstrated compliance with Policy S5(j), and outstanding material considerations need to be resolved, including the archaeological objection, inconsistency regarding Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, and need for a more robust and independent assessment of design quality and placemaking. And based on the information currently submitted, in our opinion the proposal is premature, inadequately justified and should be refused.
Submit your comments to Mid Devon District Council quoting reference 26/01201/MFUL, Land at Lynch Road, Thorverton.
Thorverton Community Action
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.
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.
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 🫶🏼
Spreading the word about our Devon Data Monster campaign at the Summer Shows!
Fantastic news that the appeal for the 80MW battery energy storage system (BESS) near Axminster, East Devon has been dismissed. #axminster #hawkchurch #eastdevon #planning #bess #battery #planning #appeal
https://www.cpredevon.org.uk/east-devon-bess-appeal-dismissed/
Bad news, as 100m high wind turbine near Winkleigh permitted by Torridge District Council. We'd objected to it because the impact on the landscape would be unacceptable & is much greater than is
necessary to provide a maximum power output of 500kW. #devon #torridge #windturbine
Thank you very much to our fantastic expert speakers & to everybody who came to our seminar at Alverdiscott on Understanding the Grid & Battery safety. It was a fascinating evening, with so much important information. #devon #torridge #grid #bess #battery #planning #northdevon
Devon tourism faces massive blow as Unesco status under threat if enormous data centre and BESS proposals go ahead. #devon #datacentre #northdevon #torridge #unesco #biosphere #bess #torrington #tourism @CommunityPlann1
Devon tourism faces "massive blow" as UNESCO status threat comes to light
Devon CPRE chair reacts after UNESCO confirmed that a mooted data centre would weigh on the decision to renew the environmental designation.
www.devonlive.com
The Torrington action group are out in force this evening, outside the offices of Torridge District Council - the message is quite clear from the local community - say no to the Devon data Monster! #devon #datacentre #bess #torrington #torridge #northdevon
Could the Devon Data Monster cost North Devon’s Unesco Biosophere Reserve its designation? This confirms our worst fears about this misguided proposal.
#devon #datacentre #battery #torrington #torridge #planning #northdevon #unesco #biosphere
Huge data centre could ‘threaten North Devon’s Biosphere status’
Global organisation UNESCO has said if the massive AI ‘data campus’ and battery storage facility near Torrington ...
www.northdevongazette.co.uk
We’ve objected to the latest application for a solar farm on good farmland at North Tawton, West Devon. 90% is Best & Most Versatile land. We need our #farmland for growing food!
#westdevon #northtawton #planning #solarfarm #devon
Devon CPRE joins solar farm opposition
Devon CPRE has joined local residents and the town council in opposing a solar farm proposal on high-quality agricultural land in North Tawton.
www.tavistock-today.co.uk
Data centre could impact ongoing Unesco status
Data centre would 'feed into' decision over ongoing UNESCO status
A possible site for the centre is North Devon Biosphere - one of seven biosphere reserves in the UK.
bbc.in
Good news - local government reorganisation paused. “Impoverishing 440,000 Devonians with the most expensive Council Tax in the land, so that 2 cities could get more prosperous is not a good look or well thought through". #devon #exeter #plymouth #torbay
Devon council shake-up hits fresh hurdle as Government reviews plans
A major shake-up of local government across Devon has been thrown into uncertainty after the Government paused the ...
www.themoorlander.co.uk
Fantastic to see hundreds of people this evening at the public meeting in #torrington concerning the proposed AI data centre & BESS. The message is loud & clear - Say No to the Devon Data Monster! #datacentre #battery #torridge #northdevon #planning #devon
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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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.