A major land restoration project proposed for farmland near Rackenford could see more than 660,000 tonnes of soil and construction material imported to the area, as part of a scheme aimed at reshaping the landscape and creating new wildlife habitats.
The planning application, submitted to Devon County Council by Titham Limited, seeks permission for the importation of up to 444,000 cubic metres (663,000 tonnes) of inert construction and demolition waste to land at East Nutcott Farm, near Rackenford. The material would be used to reprofile previously excavated land and deliver ecological improvements across the site.
According to the application documents, the project would cover approximately 8.8 hectares (around 22 acres) of land and operate over a phased period, followed by long-term environmental management.
Planning documents describe the proposal as a “clean inert landfill restoration and habitat creation project” designed to reshape land previously affected by excavation while improving biodiversity and drainage.
The imported material would consist of soils, subsoils and similar non-polluting construction materials brought from building sites across Devon. The application states that the scheme would operate over a working period of around four years before entering a 30-year aftercare and ecological management programme.
Application documents state the goal is to create “a stable and naturalistic landform” that reflects the surrounding rural landscape and supports new habitats.
Proposals include the creation of species-rich meadow areas, woodland edge planting, reinforced hedgerows and wetland habitats, alongside improved drainage features such as swales and ponds.
Ecological surveys undertaken for the application found the site currently includes a mixture of modified grassland, lowland acid grassland, hedgerows, woodland and ponds, with potential habitats for several protected species.
The ecological assessment also recorded species activity including bats and reptiles, with mitigation measures proposed as part of the development. These include habitat buffers, monitoring during construction, and new habitat creation across the restored landscape.
The report concluded that, if mitigation measures are followed, the scheme “was not considered to have any significant residual effect to ecological features within or adjacent to the application area.”
A transport assessment submitted with the application estimates that around 165,000 tonnes of material could be imported each year using 20-tonne lorries. This could result in approximately 66 vehicle movements per day on average across the road network during the operational phase.
The site would be accessed from the C555 road via the existing East Nutcott Farm entrance, with traffic expected to connect to the wider road network through routes linking to the A361 North Devon Link Road.
The application is now open for public comment, with residents invited to submit their views to Devon County Council before Wednesday, March 26.
Rackenford Parish Council is due to discuss the proposal at an extraordinary meeting on Monday, March 16 at 7.30pm at Rackenford Primary School, where residents will have an opportunity to speak before the council agrees its response.
The planning application will be determined by Devon County Council, which is responsible for waste and mineral planning decisions. Members of the public can submit comments through the council’s planning portal while the consultation period remains open.
Once the consultation period ends, planning officers will review the application, technical reports and public responses before a decision is made.
