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

A 2,000-year-old wetland, one of Britain’s most protected habitats, has “bulldozers on its gates” after developers said conservation conditions were blocking growth demanded by the government.

Wolborough Fen in Newton Abbot, Devon, a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), must be protected from any damage by developers Vistry Group as they level hills and prepare the foundations for 1,200 homes, according to planning conditions.

But last week Vistry sent bulldozers into the area near the bog and told the local council they were in contact with Labor housing ministers to resolve “current blockages” on their projects.

Musician David Knopfler, one of the founders of Dire Straits, lives near the swamp. He said: “The bulldozers are very close to the marsh now… It seems the developers have run out of patience because months have gone by so they’re going to go ahead and plunder the land and say ‘to stop us, take us to court’.”

Richard Daws, local councilor for Ambrook, near the wetland, said: “Despite tight protections… we found ourselves in a situation where bulldozers were lurking at the gates of Wolborough Fen SSSI.

“Nature conservation should never be dismissed as ‘obstructive’ but instead recognized as a fundamental key to humanity’s future.”

The developers were given a temporary cease-and-desist notice by the council in April over concerns their work was encroaching on the wetland. The cease and desist notice has expired, but conditions attached to the planning permission say evidence must be provided to show with a high degree of certainty that the proposed development will not adversely affect the SSSI.

Teignbridge district council (TDC) said it was taking legal advice on whether the conditions had been breached and was considering sanctions if necessary.

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

“Based on technical advice indicating a significant risk to Wolborough Fen, DWT has expressed repeated concerns about the impact of planned development around Wolborough Fen,” the trust said in a letter. “It is vital that the planning conditions included in the Secretary of State’s draft permission to preserve the Wolborough Fen SSSI are fully complied with.”

The wetland includes woodlands, ponds, springs, and streams and is home to a variety of wildlife, including a variety of dragonflies, wildflowers, rare mushrooms, and amphibians including frogs, toads, and salamanders. The region is also known for its significant butterfly and moth populations. As an SSSI it should have the highest level of protection against the impact of any development.

Vistry applied to remove the zoning requirement regarding the wetland. In a letter to the council seen by the Guardian, Vistry’s regional technical manager Malcolm Gilmore said delays in removing conditions were hindering housing growth. He said given seasonal weather restrictions, Vistry “had no choice but to start” by allowing work on the marsh edge.

Gilmore said he had been in contact with government ministers about “current bottlenecks” and asked for their help to speed up the project.

“This site has been included in the government’s new housing acceleration program in recognition of 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, current delays… are becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile with expedited delivery targets.”

The wetland in Devon was highlighted by the Guardian as one of the jewels in nature’s crown and was under threat from a new growth push included in the government’s planning bill that would roll back environmental protections.

A spokesman for Vistry said: “The temporary suspension notice expired a few months ago and the council has not issued a notice since. “Vistry has a number of permits on site where they are working on important infrastructure to improve the local road network. “We continue to engage constructively with the council to support their review and remain fully committed to progressing the site responsibly, with sensitivity to the local environment and in line with all planning requirements.”

Vistry said there was no confirmation they had breached any planning conditions and Wolborough had cautiously resumed limited works at Barton, outside the area affected by the previous temporary stop notice.

TDC said: “In April 2025 Teignbridge district council issued a temporary stop notice to restrict construction work at the Wolborough Barton (NA3) site,” the council said. “Although the notice expired on June 24, developer Vistry Devon South West agreed not to restart work while legal issues were assessed. “Only agreed safety and environmental mitigation measures have been taken at the site since then.

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

A spokesperson for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We are committed to removing barriers to development so we can bring the dream of homeownership back to life. We will leave no stone unturned to start building in Britain, creating a win-win for nature and growth as we build 1.5 million homes.”