Developers encroach on 2,000-year-old Devon wetland citing ‘blockages’ to Labour’s housing plans | Environment

A 2,000-year-old wetland that is one of England’s most protected habitats has “bulldozers at its gates” after developers said conditions to protect it were blocking growth demanded by the Government.

Wolborough Fen in Newton Abbot, Devon, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is to be protected from damage by developers Vistry Group as they flatten hillsides and prepare foundations for 1,200 homes, according to planning conditions.

But last week Vistry sent bulldozers into the area near the marsh and told the local council they were in contact with Labor housing ministers, seeking help to resolve “current blockages” to their project.

Musician David Knopfler, co-founder of Dire Straits, lives near the swamp. He said: “The bulldozers are very close to the swamp now… it seems the developers have lost patience because it’s been months, so they’ll just go ahead and pillage the land, and they’ll say ‘take us to court to stop us’.”

Richard Daws, local councilor for Ambrook, near the wetland, said: “Despite strict protections… we find ourselves in the position where bulldozers are hiding at the gates of the Wolborough Fen SSSI.

“Nature conservation should never be seen as a ‘blockage’, but recognized as something fundamentally essential for the future of humanity. »

The developers were given a temporary stop notice in April by the council after concerns their work would encroach on the wetland. The cessation notice has expired, but conditions attached to the planning permission state that evidence must be provided demonstrating, with a high level of certainty, that the proposed development would not have an adverse effect on the SSSI.

Teignbridge District Council (TDC) said it was taking legal advice into whether the conditions had been breached and considering enforcement action if necessary.

The Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) said it considered Vistry’s resumption of the work to be “a breach of planning control” and said it had no doubt the work would damage the three and a quarter hectares (eight acres) of wetland.

“Based on technical advice indicating a significant risk to Wolborough Fen, DWT has repeatedly expressed concerns about the impact of planned development near Wolborough Fen,” the trust said in a letter. “(It) is essential that the planning conditions attached to the Secretary of State’s general permission to protect Wolborough Fen SSSI are fully complied with.”

The wetland contains forests, ponds, springs and streams and is home to diverse wildlife including a variety of dragonflies, wildflowers, rare mushrooms and amphibians including frogs, toads and newts. The area is also known for its large populations of butterflies and moths. As an SSSI it should have the highest level of protection against the impact of any development.

Vistry has called for planning conditions regarding the wetland to be lifted. Malcolm Gilmore, Vistry’s regional technical director, said in a letter to the council, seen by the Guardian, that delays in lifting conditions were blocking housing growth. Given seasonal weather constraints, he said Vistry “had no choice but to begin” work near the marsh.

Gilmore said he was in contact with government ministers over the “current blockages” and was seeking their help to speed up the project.

“This site has been included in the government’s New Homes Acceleration Program… recognizing its strategic importance and contribution to the national target of delivering 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary term,” he said.

“In this context, the current delays… are increasingly difficult to reconcile with the objectives of accelerated delivery. »

The Devon wetland has been highlighted by the Guardian as one of nature’s gems, under threat from the Government’s new growth spurt contained in the planning bill, which would roll back environmental protections.

A spokesperson for Vistry said: “The temporary cessation notice expired several months ago and the council has not issued one since. Vistry has a Reserved Matters Agreement in place for the location where they are working on key infrastructure to improve the local road network. We continue to engage constructively with the council to support its review and remain fully committed to progressing the site responsibly, taking into account the local environment and in accordance with all planning requirements.

Vistry said there was no confirmation they had breached any planning conditions and said it had carefully resumed limited work at Wolborough Barton, staying outside the area affected by the previous temporary stoppage notice.

TDC said: “In April 2025, Teignbridge District Council issued a temporary stoppage notice to restrict construction work at the Wolborough Barton (NA3) site,” the council said. “Although the notice period expired on June 24, the developer, Vistry Devon South West, agreed not to resume work while legal matters were considered. Since then, only agreed safety and environmental mitigation measures have been implemented at the site.

“The developer has sought legal advice and has now informed the council of its intention to restart certain infrastructure works in areas outside the Wolborough Fen SSSI catchment… TDC is currently seeking independent legal advice to determine whether resuming these works would breach planning control.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We are determined to remove the barriers to development so we can restore the dream of home ownership. We will work hard to get Britain building and create a win-win deal for nature and growth by building 1.5 million homes.”