THERE is growing opposition to controversial plans to dump hundreds of thousands of tonnes of construction waste in a rural location in North Devon which local residents say would be an “environmental tragedy”.

More than 550 people have signed an online petition against the proposal for East Nutcott Farm at Rackenford in three days claiming that the inert landfill waste site would pose a huge threat to the Little Dart river and narrow, rural roads which could see up to 60 HGV vehicle movements a day.

Applicants Titham Ltd have applied to Devon Council Council for the importation of up to 663,000 tonnes of inert construction and demolition waste from across Devon to the 8.8-hectare site over several years followed by a “30-year aftercare regime”.

It says the application would meet a demand in Devon and that excavated ground would be re-profiled and restored to a condition that is “visually coherent, environmentally stable and consistent with the surrounding agricultural landscape” and would deliver “long-term environmental gains”.

But opponents, including North Devon Council, are concerned about the site’s close proximity to a number of special designations and the impact the plan would have the road network, the safety of other road users and pedestrians and the tranquillity of the village often referred to as “a rural gem”.

North Devon District Councillor Peter Jones (Ind, Witheridge) said this was “entirely the wrong location” for this operation which would run six days a week.

He disputed that there was a need for a new waste import site in the area as he claimed “existing facilities had sufficient capacity”.

Parts of the approach road (C555) to the site narrowed to less than five metres and were not adequate for two large HGV to pass, he added, and fragile culverts would be at risk of collapse from repeated heavy vehicle use.

More than 40 comments against the plans have been submitted to North Devon Council.

One resident said: “There are deer crossings just yards from the farm, just part of the amazing wildlife and fauna. It would be an environmental tragedy.”

Another said with approximately six 20-tonne lorries travelling to the site every hour it was only a matter of time before a serious collision occurred.

Planning documents from Titham Ltd say that the scheme had been designed to deliver enhanced drainage, improved water management, strengthened hedgerow and woodland structure, and the creation of new meadow and wetland habitats across the restored site.

“The proposal seeks to restore previously excavated land at East Nutcott Farm through the phased importation of clean inert soils and the creation of a stable, naturalistic landform that blends with the surrounding countryside.

“The development has been designed to respect the site’s environmental sensitivities, improve overall land quality, and deliver long-term ecological and landscape benefits.”

A public consultation on the proposal was held in the Rackenford Club in November 2025.

People can comment on the proposal on Devon County Council’s website until March 26. The application number is DCC/4451/2025.