Planning Workshop for Town & Parish Councils – Hatherleigh Community Centre, 8th March 2024

Following the success of our previous planning workshop, held before Covid, where over 80 councillors from across Devon attended, we are delighted to be holding our workshop again, giving those who were unable to attend another opportunity to learn from our experienced, independent planning consultant, Jo Widdecombe. We do hope you can join us.

If you sit on a town or parish council in Devon, you need to know how to respond to planning proposals affecting your community.

How town and parish councils respond, as consultees in the planning process, can significantly influence the outcome. Even though the process seems to be burdened by ever more strategy, policy and jargon – local plans, neighbourhood plans, the NPPF, 5-year housing land supply etc etc – what you say and how you say it can make a real difference to what the local planning authority decides.

Experienced independent Planning Consultant, Jo Widdecombe, will guide you through the process and explain what’s important.

FREE admission for member organisations (up to 3 people free per member council); non-members £10 per person, including refreshments.

Cheques should be made payable to CPRE Devon and sent to us at PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN or if you prefer to pay by a bank transfer let us know and we will provide the account details.

Please book your space(s) by contacting Penny Mills on: info@cpredevon.org.uk or 01392 966737. Remember – Free admission if you are a member.

related posts

Our Response to the Government’s Land Use Framework – 19th March 2026

Our farmland is facing a ‘land crunch’ as solar, housing and other demands compete for space. Yesterday (Wednesday 18 March), the government published England’s first Land Use Framework, which it claims will play a central role in delivering food security, clean energy, nature restoration and new homes over the coming decades. Here's our response: Devon CPRE Chairman, Steve Crowther says: “Devon CPRE was warning farming

Read Post

East Devon Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – Public Inquiry starts 10th March

East Devon community urgently seeks funds to fight two landmark Appeals into proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems  Devon CPRE is backing residents around the rural…

Read Post

150MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Axminster – At Appeal

An inquiry is due to commence on 10th March 2026, and scheduled to last for 4 days, regarding the application for a BESS on Land South of Hazelhurst, Raymonds Hill, Axminster (East Devon District Council reference number 24/0096/MFUL) (Appeal: APP/U1105/W/25/3369854). We strongly objected to the proposal because it would be a massive industrial complex of 27 acres located in the open countryside, in an area

Read Post

More houses for Halwill Junction, Torridge?

Despite a previous appeal for a new housing development in Holly Lane being dismissed, a new application has been submitted to Torridge District Council for 20 dwellings (ref 1/0020/2026/FULM). We have submitted an objection because the current proposal does not meaningfully address the Inspector’s previous concerns and does not overcome the reasons why the earlier scheme was dismissed.

Read Post

Application for 120 dwellings on the Callington Road, Tavistock, faces strong opposition

There has been a large outcry of opposition from local residents to this latest planning application for new houses in Tavistock, with many people fearing that the roads and services in and around the town just can't cope with any more. We have submitted a comprehensive objection to the application (ref 3771/25/OPA). Approximately 91% of the site is classified as Grade 3a agricultural land, which

Read Post

Another large housing development at Ottery St Mary, East Devon

We have submitted a comprehensive objection to the latest application for 63 dwellings on land east of the Sidmouth Road (ref 26/0094/MOUT). East Devon District Council's own evidence base Site Selection Report Ottery St Mary (Sept 2024 p 36-38) concluded this site should not be allocated due to landscape sensitivity, heritage considerations, infrastructure constraints, highway limitations, and high-quality agricultural land. There has been no change

Read Post