A 2,000-year-old wetland that is one of the most protected habitats in England has “bulldozers at its door” after developers said the conditions needed to protect it were hindering the growth demanded by the government.
Woolborough 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 the hills and prepare groundworks for 1,200 homes, according to planning conditions.
But last week Vestry sent bulldozers to the area near the moor and told the local council they were in contact with Labor housing ministers, asking for help in resolving “current impediments” to their project.
Musician David Knopfler, who co-founded Dire Straits, lives near the swamp. He said: “The bulldozers are very close to the swamp now… It seems that the developers have run out of patience because it has been months, so they will continue to plunder the land, and they are saying: Take us to court to stop us.”
Richard Dawes, a local councilor for the town of Ambrook, near the wetlands, said: “Despite the stringent protection measures… we find ourselves in a situation where bulldozers are lurking at the gates of Wolborough Fen SSI.”
“Nature conservation should never be dismissed as a ‘constraint’, but rather recognized as fundamental to the future of humanity.”
The council issued a temporary stop notice to developers in April after concerns their work was encroaching on wetlands. The stop notice has expired, but the conditions attached to the planning permission stipulate that evidence must be provided that shows, with a high degree of certainty, that the proposed development will not adversely affect SSI.
Teignbridge District Council (TDC) said it was receiving legal advice on whether the conditions had been breached and was considering taking enforcement action if necessary.
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) said it considered the restart of the Vistry works a “breach of planning control” and said it had no doubt the works would damage three and a quarter hectares (eight acres) of wetland.
“On the basis of technical advice indicating a significant risk to Wolborough Fen, DWT has expressed repeated concerns about the impact of planned development in the vicinity of Wolborough Fen,” the trust said in a letter. “(It is important) that the planning conditions associated with the detailed permission issued by the Secretary of State to protect the Wolborough Fen SSSI are fully adhered to.”
The wetlands contain forests, ponds, springs and streams, and are home to diverse wildlife, including a variety of dragonflies, wildflowers, rare fungi and amphibians including frogs, toads and salamanders. The area is also known for having large populations of butterflies and moths. As an SSSI, you should have the highest level of protection from the impact of any development.
Vistry has applied to lift the planning condition relating to the wetlands. Malcolm Gilmour, Vestry’s regional technical director, said in a letter to the council, seen by the Guardian, that delays in lifting conditions were holding back housing growth. Given seasonal climate constraints, he said Vestry had “no alternative but to begin” the enabling works adjacent to the swamp.
Gilmour said he was in contact with government ministers about “current obstacles” and was asking for their help to speed up the project.
He said: “This site was included in the new home construction acceleration program launched by the government… in recognition of its strategic importance and its contribution to achieving the national goal of providing 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary session.”
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“In this context, it is difficult to reconcile the current delay… with the goals of accelerating delivery.”
The Guardian has highlighted Devon’s wetlands as one of nature’s crown jewels, under threat of the government’s new growth drive contained in the planning bill, which would roll back environmental protections.
A Vistry spokesman said: “The pause notice expired several months ago and the council has not issued a notice since then. Vistry has retained approval for matters in place in relation to where they are working on key infrastructure to improve the local road network. We continue to work constructively with the council to support its review and remain fully committed to developing the site responsibly, taking into account the local environment and in line with all planning requirements.
Vestry said there was no confirmation they had breached any planning conditions, and said it had carefully resumed limited works in Wolborough Barton, remaining outside the area affected by the previous temporary stop notice.
“In April 2025, Teignbridge District Council issued a temporary stop notice to restrict construction work at the Wolborough Barton (NA3) site,” the TDC said. “Despite the notice expiring on June 24, the developer, Vistry Devon South West, agreed not to resume work while the legal issues were considered. Since then, only agreed safety and environmental mitigation measures have been taken on 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 hydrological catchment… TDC is currently seeking independent legal advice to determine whether restarting these works would breach planning control.”
A Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We are determined to remove barriers to development so we can restore the dream of home ownership. We will spare no effort to support Building Britain and we will deliver a win-win for nature and growth as we build 1.5 million homes.”