A major plan to reverse nature loss across Devon has edged closer to adoption after councillors were told it would guide – not block – future development.
Members of Torridge District Council’s Community and Resources Committee debated the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy on Monday, April 20, hearing it could influence a wide range of council decisions, from planning to land use, once formally adopted.
Planning policy team leader Ian Rowland told the committee the strategy was a statutory requirement designed to help reverse biodiversity decline and would need to be considered in future council decisions.
Mr Rowland said: “Public bodies have a duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity… and in doing so, legislation requires public bodies to have regard to the local nature recovery strategy in exercising our functions.”
He explained the strategy, coordinated nationally by Defra and prepared locally by Devon County Council, would set priorities for habitats and species while mapping areas for improvement.
Mr Rowland said: “It will have an influence potentially on a wide range of our services and our functions.”
The council is acting as a supporting authority in the process and had been involved throughout its development, including workshops and consultation stages.
More than 200 responses and over 700 comments were submitted during a public consultation in late 2025, alongside input from workshops and webinars.
Following that feedback, Devon County Council produced a final draft earlier this year, which Torridge councillors were asked to consider.
Under legislation, the authority can only object if the strategy is unjustified by consultation responses or is “materially deficient”.
Officers recommended no objection.
Mr Rowland said: “There is no basis to consider that the final strategy cannot be justified nor that it is likely to be materially deficient.”
He added the strategy was intended to guide positive environmental action rather than restrict development.
Mr Rowland said: “It’s not meant to be a barrier to development, it’s about providing you with actions and objectives of things that can direct in a positive way.”
Councillor Teresa Tinsley questioned how much scrutiny members had been given, noting the document appeared focused on process.
Cllr Tinsley said she would have liked to see more localised examples and asked whether the strategy had previously come before a committee.
Mr Rowland confirmed it had not, but said members had been kept informed and invited to engage during earlier stages.
Concerns were also raised about the potential impact on planning and economic growth.
Councillor Jane Whittaker asked whether developers might find it harder to build.
Mr Rowland said the strategy should instead help shape development more strategically.
He said: “It could help us shape and steer where we would put things… and where we may improve habitats.”
Cllr Whittaker said: “I would see it as a positive. I’m just wondering if your developers would see it as a positive.”
Mr Rowland said: “Hopefully they will, it’s not meant to prevent them from being able to develop an individual site.”
Rural concerns were raised by Councillor Philip Pennington, who warned businesses in the countryside could be affected.
Cllr Pennington said: “My fear is we adopt too much biodiversity net gain, then we lose the primary industry that supports the secondary industry.”
He asked for assurances that agriculture and rural enterprises would not be restricted.
Mr Rowland said the strategy would not impose restrictions on land use.
He said: “It is not going to decree any of that, it’s not intended to hamstring.”
The Devon strategy forms part of a nationwide framework introduced under the Environment Act 2021, aiming to create around 50 local strategies across England to restore nature.
Councillors were advised that once adopted, the strategy would need to be considered in council decision-making, including planning and environmental policies.
The committee was recommended to support publication without objection.
