CPRE Devon

20/10/2026

Devon’s AI Data Monster makes headlines in The New York Times! 🇺🇸

Our campaign against the proposed AI Data Centre and Battery Energy Storage System near Torrington has attracted international attention!

Our Chair, Steve Crowther, met with The New York Times journalist Stephen Castle to discuss the scale of the proposed development, local communities' concerns, and why Devon CPRE is fighting to protect our precious countryside.

It's fantastic to see this important issue receiving attention on an international stage.

Read the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/world/europe/ai-datacenter-devon-uk-backlash.html or in the images below.

16/10/2026

FREE Seminar - Understanding the GRID: Is a new line of pylons coming to the area?

Our next FREE seminar, 'Understanding the Grid' will take place on Monday 26 October, 11am - 1pm at Hatherleigh Community Centre, Bowling Green Ln, Hatherleigh, Okehampton EX20 3HB.

**To book, please contact Penny at [email protected] 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?

Is a new cable route planned to link Alverdiscott with North Tawton? What will that mean, what is it for/why is it needed, what would it look like – pylons?

This is a complicated subject, often surrounded by conflicting information, so we’ve invited an independent Devon-based expert to help separate fact from fiction.

We 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.

For those who were unable to attend our seminar recently in September, this is another opportunity to learn more about this important subject.

Our seminar will take place on Monday 26th October 2026, at Hatherleigh Community Centre, Bowling Green Lane, Hatherleigh EX20 3HB 11am-1pm.

**To book, please contact Penny at [email protected] or call 01392 966737**

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be an informative morning.

16/10/2026

The Midweek Herald has now updated its news story covering the dismissal of the appeal against the proposed 80MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Raymond’s Hill, near Axminster, to acknowledge Devon CPRE’s key involvement in opposing the plans, which had been omitted from the original article.

The proposed 80MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Raymond’s Hill near Axminster was rejected by a planning inspector.

15/10/2026

We've been getting some great coverage of the 'plot' to turn North Devon into AI growth zone....

A freedom of information request has revealed plans to turn North Devon into an AI growth zone, sparking opposition from local campaigners

14/10/2026

A monster of a threat looms over the Devon countryside, and we, Devon CPRE, working in tandem with local activists, are doing all we can to stop a massive AI data campus and battery energy storage system (BESS) being built between Weare Giffard, Huntshaw and Great Torrington.

CPRE was founded 100 years ago to see off threats to the countryside following the exponential rise in motorised transport and is now arguably facing its biggest fight yet. England is seeing a huge increase in applications for data centres. Our countryside risks becoming a dumping ground for these massive, resource-intensive developments, and because of recent changes to planning rules, some decisions about data centre developments could bypass local councils and communities entirely.

The Devon branch of the charity, having campaigned for decades against unwanted developments like solar and wind farms on productive farmland, is now up against its own ‘AI monster’ and needs your help to stop it taking over a huge swathe of prime farmland with devastating implications for the environment, ecology and wildlife and people’s health and quality of life.

The Devon Data Campus proposed by the developer Xlinks would consist of 750 acres containing five hyper-scale AI data centres, huge buildings up to 130 feet tall, housing around 120,000 computers operating day and night. Alongside this, a 96-acre battery park, consisting of at least 1,700 containers holding up to 16 million lithium-ferrous-phosphate batteries. Where will this campus be sited? Unbelievably, on an unspoilt hillside within direct sightline of the historic town of Great Torrington and highly visible for miles around.

The BBC has already reported that such a development will put North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere status at risk. That’s just one potential effect of this ill-thought-through plan, which Devon CPRE first heard about three months ago, although we now know that discussions between Xlinks and Torridge District Council have been taking place for far longer.

The Government has identified five ‘AI Growth Zones’ nationally - Teesside, Lanarkshire, the former Ford plant at Bridgend in South Wales, the area of North Wales close to the Wylfa Small Nuclear Reactor site, and Culham in Oxfordshire, alongside the Atomic Energy Authority, are the chosen locations. All are former industrial areas in need of regeneration or have strategic co-location advantages. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t one of them, but Xlinks wants it to be designated as one. Following the release of documents by Torridge District Council under Freedom of Information rules, the local residents’ Action group has ascertained that the developer wants the Government to designate this area of Northern Devon as one of its Growth Zones. This would bring advantageous conditions for the project and also encourage more data centres to co-locate in the area.

The FOI documents also show that Torridge District Council is being pressed to designate the proposed data centre site as suitable for development in the local authority’s emerging Local Plan.

Neither of the above can be allowed to happen because these are the potential effects if this development gets the go-ahead:

1. The loss of 850 acres of world-class, food-producing Devon farmland
2. Huge changes to the local environment, ecology and wildlife
3. Water consumption - up to 2.9 billion litres of water a year to cool the servers
4. Audible and low-frequency inaudible noise which can affect health
5. Major fire and chemical risks from batteries overheating
6. A massive blight on the landscape affecting our tourism industry
7. Construction traffic and disruption over many years

We are supporting the Action Group (Devon Data Centre and BESS Action Group), including providing 15,000 leaflets, 900 correx boards, and spending the summer months campaigning from our stand at four country shows across Devon. As an organisation with 100 years of experience dealing with the planning system, we are well-placed to take up the fight.

Our short film about our Say No campaign has already been viewed more than 54,000 times. Help us reach even more people by sharing this YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Qu0tyGPMY&t=3s

By standing together, we can stop this AI data centre and BESS from being built. So, don’t delay, join our Register of Objectors to help reinforce our case when the plans are considered by Torridge District Council in early 2027. We will keep you informed on how this massive plan progresses, and when and how to register your objections with Torridge District Council.

To become a Registered Objector, visit www.DevonCPRE.org.uk, call us on 01392 966737, email us at [email protected] or write to Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy EX21 5XN giving your name and address.

Let others know about this vital campaign and become a member of Devon CPRE if you care about Devon's countryside. Join us today at www.cpredevon.org.uk

We are a charity and rely solely on memberships, donations and legacies.

(Registered Charity No. 1175228)

Devon CPRE is out and about at agricultural shows across Devon this...

12/10/2026

Our fight against the Devon Data Monster continues!

Earlier this summer, we were out and about at agricultural shows across Devon, raising awareness of the proposed AI Data Campus and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on hundreds of acres of open farmland near Torrington.

We were heartened by the incredible support we received, with so many people visiting our stand, signing our petition, becoming members and sharing their concerns about this enormous development and other threats to Devon's countryside - thank you to everyone who's been involved.

We're resharing our short film as a reminder of why this campaign matters and why your support is so important. We've had over 54K views already!

The fight is far from over, and we need your help!

As an independent charity, Devon CPRE relies entirely on memberships, donations and legacies to fund our work. Your support enables us to employ the expertise needed to scrutinise planning applications, challenge inappropriate developments, represent local communities and ensure people's voices are heard.

👉 Become a member and help us protect Devon's countryside: https://www.cpredevon.org.uk/join-us/

📢 Concerned about the proposed AI Data Campus and BESS? Join our Register of Objectors to stay informed as plans develop. We'll let you know when it's time to submit an objection and provide guidance to help you make your own personal representation: https://devoncpre.org.uk/data-centre-and-battery-field/

Together, we have a much stronger voice. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us in protecting Devon's countryside! 💚



https://youtu.be/u-Qu0tyGPMY?si=7fGbJEuYBnCQaY_y

Devon CPRE is out and about at agricultural shows across Devon this...

12/10/2026

Great coverage from BBC News of the dismissed appeal in Axminster, following a campaign by us, Devon CPRE and the Hawkchurch and Monkton Wyld Action Group.

Plans for the battery system site near the Devon-Dorset border have again been dismissed.

07/10/2026

Fantastic news just in today.

The appeal for the 80MW Battery Energy Storage System on land at Newlands Farm, Raymond’s Hill, Axminster has been dismissed.

This is a very important decision and the second BESS appeal dismissal in the area in the last few months. It’s another victory for people power! And should give encouragement to others opposing similar BESS proposals in the countryside.

The appeal took the form of a public inquiry held in May and June. We had objected to the proposal, supporting the local residents’ action group. The appeal decision dated today, 7th October, states that the main issues were:

• Whether the site is suitable for the proposed development taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from fire and contamination, including to public health and the natural environment, with particular regard to the water environment, and

• Whether the proposal would conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the Dorset National Landscape.

The lengthy and detailed 64 point report concludes that:

“ In conclusion, I find that whilst the benefits of the scheme would outweigh the moderate harm that would be caused to the Dorset National Landscape, they are insufficient to outweigh the very substantial, overriding, unacceptable risks in respect of pollution of the water environment including groundwater in the aquifer and human drinking water in the event of a fire and storm event, however low the probability of such a risk would be, in conflict with the development plan and the national decision-making policies of the Framework. The mitigation proposed would not be effective in ensuring that there would be an acceptable balance between harm and benefit. Accordingly, the proposal is not suitable for its location“.

Congratulations to the Hawkchurch & Monkton Wyld Action group for all their hard work. You’ve done an amazing job opposing so many proposals in the area in the last few years.

05/10/2026

The appeal lodged following East Devon District Council’s refusal of plans for 140 new homes on land adjacent to Gerways Nurseries in Ottery St Mary has been highlighted on the BBC News website - see below.

The application (Ref: 25/2468/MOUT) was refused by the council, but the applicant has now lodged an appeal against that decision, as we mentioned last week.

The plans are controversial with almost 600 people objecting to the development.

02/10/2026

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 Gerways Nurseries, Ottery St Mary. (Application ref 25/2468/MOUT). The appeal will be determined on the basis of a hearing currently scheduled for 18th November and expected to last two days. Representations can be made to the Planning Inspectorate; the deadline is 30th October. Quoting appeal ref 6013445

We had objected to the proposal. Our submission concluded that in this case, the identified harms including encroachment into open countryside, loss of BMV agricultural land, inadequate assessment of heritage significance, departure from the emerging plan-led spatial strategy and site selection evidence, unresolved design and density concerns, and landscape/visual harm arising from unjustified boundary expansion, which collectively amount to significant and demonstrable adverse impacts. These clearly outweigh the benefits of the proposal.