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.
Please join us. Please support us. Your countryside needs you.
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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 🫶🏼
Did you see last night’s BBC Countryfile discussing AI Data Centres? Devon CPRE’s Chair, Steve Crowther, was interviewed to give insight into the proposed Data AI centre in Torrington.
It was very interesting coverage, particularly the interview with Spencer Lamb, CEO of Kao Data Campus, Harlow, who agrees “we do not need to build Data centres on Green belt. We do not need to build data centres on farmland. There are many opportunities to put them on former industrial sites. There are enough brownfield sites".
Watch from 13 mins 24 secs in.
Countryfile - World Rivers Day - The River Trent
www.bbc.co.uk
To mark World Rivers Day, Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor explore the River Trent and the land that surrounds it.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Alverdiscott for our ‘Understanding the Grid & Battery Safety’ seminar last Thursday
It was fantastic to see you all, with people travelling from across Devon – and Cornwall too, to learn more about these important and often complex issues.
A particular thank you must go to our expert speakers, who gave their time to share their knowledge and expertise.
One little observation from the evening… We invited every councillor across Devon to attend, hundreds of councillors in total. Just four came.
So, a special thank you to the one councillor from North Devon, one from West Devon and two from Torridge who did take the time to join us and find out more about an issue that is becoming increasingly important for communities across our county.
We know there was a lot of interest in the battery safety presentation, and we’ll shortly be able to provide a copy to anyone who would like one.
Thank you again to everyone who came along, asked questions and contributed to such an interesting and informative evening, and thank you for supporting Devon CPRE and our work to protect Devon’s countryside.
www.cpredevon.org.uk
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.
Read more below....
Devon tourism faces "massive blow" as UNESCO status threat comes to light
www.devonlive.com
Devon CPRE chair reacts after UNESCO confirmed that a mooted data centre would weigh on the decision to renew the environmental designation.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone who has booked a place for our seminar this Thursday evening at Alverdiscott Community Hall.
We wanted to make you aware of a road closure in the area, just in case it affects your journey to the venue.
The information we have says that the road will reopen in the evenings from 6pm onwards, so it should be open in plenty of time for our seminar, which starts at 7pm. However, we thought it would be helpful to give you some advance notice so you can plan your journey accordingly.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
👇🏼Our new research shows that there's enough brownfield for 1.54m million homes. 🏠
Over half of those already have planning permission. And the amount of brownfield sitting unused has grown every year since 2018.
This comes only a few days after Angela Rayner said the government's 1.5m target had a slim chance of success.
So the problem isn't a shortage of space. It's a target built on a formula that suits big housebuilders, pushing car-dependent 'executive' homes onto the countryside while the housing crisis, at heart a crisis of affordability, goes unsolved.
We're calling on the government to:
💠 Put brownfield first and mean it, with Homes England money to match
💠 Let mayors and strategic authorities set their own housing targets
💠 Fund the brownfield sites that aren't yet viable, instead of releasing countryside
💠 Set real, enforceable targets for social and affordable homes
Summary report and more interesting info 👇
www.cpre.org.uk/2026-state-of-brownfield/
Devon CPRE has joined local residents and the town council in opposing a solar farm proposal on high-quality agricultural land in North Tawton.
Devon CPRE joins solar farm opposition
www.tavistock-today.co.uk
Devon CPRE has joined local residents and the town council in opposing a solar farm proposal on high-quality agricultural land in North Tawton.
We have a few spaces remaining at our Understanding the GRID and BESS seminar on 24th September, 7pm at Alverdiscott Community Hall / Village Hall, Stoney Cross, EX39 4PZ.
TO BOOK, PLEASE contact Penny at director@cpredevon.org.uk or call 01392 966737
With communities across Devon facing a growing number of proposals for solar farms, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), larger wind turbines, offshore wind farms and potentially a major AI data centre, questions about our electricity infrastructure are becoming increasingly important.
Is there actually enough local Grid capacity? How does the Grid work in the South West and nationally? Why do so many cables seem to lead to Alverdiscott? And just how safe are large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems?
These are complicated subjects, often surrounded by conflicting information, so we’ve invited two independent Devon-based experts to help separate fact from fiction.
The first part of the evening will explore how the National Grid works, the capacity available in the South West and what this means for the many energy and infrastructure developments currently being proposed across Devon.
The second will focus on battery technology and BESS safety, led by an expert involved with leading lithium-ion battery safety research teams and regulations surrounding their installation. With more large-scale BESS developments being proposed across the country, we’ll look at the risks, the research and the question: how safe are they really?
Could the Devon Data Monster cost North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve its designation?
It's been reported that North Devon could lose its UNESCO Biosphere designation if the Data Centre plan goes ahead. This confirms our worst fears about this misguided proposal. The loss of the Biosphere would be a massive blow to our tourism industry, on top of the looming physical presence of one of the world’s three largest data centres and Europe’s largest battery assembly on our cherished rural landscape.
It would be an act of enormous self-harm if this were allowed by the local authority, or worse still, imposed on us by central government. That’s why people from all over the country, who recognise and value the unique qualities of the Devon countryside, are signing our Register of Objectors (at www.devoncpre.org.uk) to try and ensure that this never comes to fruition. Please sign and share it. Thank you.
www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/threat-north-devons-rare-unesco-11157032
Threat to North Devon's rare status over 850-acre data centre
www.devonlive.com
World-leading environmental organisation confirms prospective data centre in North Devon Biosphere would weigh on decision to maintain the designationSpreading the word about our Devon Data Monster campaign at the Summer Shows!
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
It’s the right decision that the application for 10 houses on green fields outside the village development boundary of Black Torrington, Torridge was refused. #planning #devon #torridge
Black Torrington ten-home plan refused after council raises design concerns
A plan for ten new homes on green fields has been rejected after concerns were raised over design, drainage, access to services and future…
www.midweekherald.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
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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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.