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…

140 dwellings, Ottery St Mary – Appeal lodged

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…

Understanding the Grid, and Battery Safety – our Seminar

Thank you to everyone who came to our seminar last week (24th September) at Alverdiscott Village Hall. It was fantastic to see you all, with…

100m high wind turbine permitted

Torridge District Council have permitted the application for a 100m high wind turbine in the countryside at Hollacombe near Winkleigh. We had objected to the…

Could the Devon Data Monster cost North Devon’s Unesco Biosophere Reserve its designation?

Its been reported that North Devon could lose its UNESCO Biosphere designation if the Data Centre plan goes ahead. This confirms our worst fears about…

North Tawton Solar Farm – Growing opposition to West Devon application

Devon CPRE has objected to a planning application to build a solar farm and associated infrastructure on 30 acres of good agricultural land south of Arla…

Local Government Reorganisation – Paused.

Devon CPRE welcomes the government’s decision to review its plans for local government reorganisation and pause work on proposals affecting Devon. The government announced yesterday…

Planning refusal for a small number of new homes, is a big win for Black Torrington

We’ve welcomed Torridge District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a clutch of new homes on a sensitive site on green fields outside the…

We’ve objected to the 2,000 new home so called ‘Clyst Village’.

Devon CPRE objects to strategic-scale new settlement in East Devon with the misnomer ‘Clyst Village’  We’ve lodged an objection to a proposed development of up…

Seminar – Understanding the Grid, and Battery Energy Storage Systems. 24th September 2026, 7pm, Alverdiscott Village Hall, Stoney Cross, Bideford EX39 4PZ

Seminar – Understanding the Grid, and Battery Energy Storage Systems.
Thursday 24th September 2026. 7pm. Alverdiscott Village Hall.

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?
Places must be booked by contacting us on info@cpredevon.org.uk

Come and meet us at the summer shows!

We’ve been out and about this summer at several of the one day agricultural shows throughout the County. This year, our stand is focussed on…

Torridge Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – Appeal lodged

In July, Torridge District Council’s Planning Committee voted to refuse proposals for a Battery Energy Storage System with a capacity of up to 99.4MW including…

East Devon Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – APPEAL DISMISSED – A victory for People Power!

Devon CPRE and the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group are celebrating a resounding success following a Planning Inspector’s decision to dismiss a developer’s appeal…

Battery Energy Storage System Refused!

Permission for a Battery Energy Storage System at Woodtown refused after objectors mount demonstration. Devon CPRE and other objectors are jubilant after Torridge District Council’s…

Local Government Reorganisation – a disaster for rural Devon

The reorganisation of Devon into four unitary councils, announced by the government today (16 July), is a bonanza for the three urban authorities created, and…

Massive AI datacentre and Battery System proposed in Devon

Groundswell of incredulity at proposals for a massive AI data centre in the middle of the north Devon countryside Devon CPRE and Devon residents have…

Devon CPRE backs villagers fighting to preserve the unique character and setting of East Allington in the South Hams

Residents in the rural South Hams village of East Allington turned out in force this week (Thursday, 11 June) for a public meeting to discuss…

‘Wrong development, wrong location’ – new Brixham housing proposal on farmland should be refused

We’ve submitted a comprehensive objection to Torbay Council (planning application reference: P/2026/0148) outlining numerous reasons why proposals should be refused to build 175 homes on…

Devon solar farm shut down to avert grid overload

Power ‘shut down’ at Derril Water Solar Park and other North Devon renewable generators to avert grid overload Devon CPRE has learnt that National Grid…

Edward Capern Festival – 4/5 June 2026

Devon CPRE sponsors inaugural festival to celebrate ‘Devonshire’s Robbie Burns’ on Devon Day, 4 June 2026 We are really pleased to be sponsoring the first…

Westleigh, near Instow, housing appeal dismissed

We are delighted that a Planning Inspector has dismissed an appeal by the Christie Estate for outline permission to build a cluster of new houses…

Major development of 450 houses permitted at Barnstaple, North Devon

Despite numerous objections, including our own, North Devon District Council planning committee have permitted this major development at Brynsworthy, on the edge of Barnstaple. The proposal had been refused two years ago for being outside the development boundary, lack of connection to services and infrastructure issues. But this time around, councillors were told if they refused it again they were likely to lose if it was taken to appeal given the council’s shortfall in housing land and new targets to build 1,300 houses a year.