Developer cites Labour housing plans as it gets closer to protected fen

One of England's most protected natural habitats has “bulldozers at its gates” after developers said conditions to protect it were blocking the housing growth the government is demanding.

- Sandra Laville

Wolborough Fen in Newton Abbot, Devon, is a 2,000-year-old wetland and a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). According to planning conditions, it must be protected from any damage by developer Vistry Group as it builds 1,200 houses in the area.

But last week Vistry sent bulldozers near to the fen and told the local council it was seeking to have those conditions lifted. It added that it was in contact with government ministers for help in sorting out “current blockages” to housing growth.

The musician David Knopfler, who co-founded the band Dire Straits, lives close by. He said: “The bulldozers are very near the fen now ... it seems the developers have run out of patience because it has been months, so they are just going to go on and despoil the land, and they are saying 'take us to court to stop us'.”