Devon CPRE has made a scathing objection to a proposal for a waste import site at Rackenford in North Devon, which residents have fiercely opposed, gaining over 900 signatures on an online petition site. A Devon councillor has also spoken out strongly against the proposed development because of the negative impact it will have on the environment, wildlife and road safety.
With the backing of Devon CPRE and County Councillor Richard Hopley, residents are calling on Devon County Council to refuse a planning application for what’s described by the applicant as an ‘inert waste import and land-raising’ operation at East Nutcott Farm, Rackenford (planning application number DCC/4451/2025).
The proposed facility would bring 444,000 cubic meters (663,000 tonnes) of building waste into a peaceful rural landscape. The site lies close to the Little Dart River, within a “high sensitivity” landscape, due to its proximity to the North Devon Coast National Landscape, Culm Grassland Special Area of Conservation, Rackenford Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest, and its location within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve.
Devon CPRE’s objection says, ‘Despite being described as “landscape-led”, the development is a large-scale waste importation and land engineering operation. The scheme is fundamentally waste-led.’
The proposal is described as being delivered in phases. Devon CPRE points out that no clear phasing strategy is provided within the submitted documentation, and that this lack of detail further undermines confidence in the proposal and its potential impacts: “There is no clearly defined or enforceable phasing plan. It is not evident how much of the site would be worked at any one time, and there is no phasing strategy supported by robust information on vehicle movements, soil handling, or restoration methodology. This undermines the conclusions of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), and conflicts with the requirements of [several] Policies, which require clear and demonstrable enhancement of landscape character.”
The village of Rackenford is surrounded by narrow country lanes, which Devon CPRE and residents say are wholly unsuitable for the sustained heavy goods vehicle traffic the development would necessitate.
Devon CPRE concludes that the site is completely unsuitable for the type of activities proposed and that they would harm the landscape and road safety:
“Residents raise significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the evidence base and the environmental and highway impacts of the proposal. They argue that the development would result in long-term disruption, safety risks, and environmental harm, with no clear or proportionate community benefit.
“The proposal would involve substantial landform alteration and prolonged construction activity within a high-value landscape. Any claimed benefits are uncertain, insufficiently defined, and not secured through the application. The supporting technical assessments contain limitations and rely on assumptions rather than robust, site-specific evidence.
“On this basis, the application is considered contrary to a number of policies, including the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan Policies, ST14 and DM08/8A, and the Devon Waste Local Plan Policies W3, W11 and W12, as it fails to adequately demonstrate conservation and enhancement of landscape character and tranquillity. It is a waste-led development supported by insufficient technical evidence, and the application should be refused.”
Devon County Councillor Richard Hopley, South Molton, which covers the parish of Rackenford, says, “This application will be absolutely devastating for local communities. An average of 66 HGVs a day travelling along our country lanes and through local villages for four years will see the further decline of our roads and verges, and impact wildlife, the environment, people’s lives and health and pose a danger to other road users, especially walkers and cyclists.
“Why is it necessary to deposit 660,000 tons of soil to re-landscape? I would question what materials will be contained within that ‘soil’. Will there be invasive plants? Will the ground become contaminated? What would happen in four years if the company went into liquidation, leaving a complete mess of the surrounding environment? This application should be refused. It is of benefit to no one other than the applicant.”
The petition site set up by residents is continuing to gain signatures:Petition · Oppose the waste import site at East Nutcott Farm, Rackenford DCC/4451/2025 – United Kingdom · Change.org
