Okehampton Town Council has agreed to support an application to name Hog’s Wood a community asset as part of a bid to save the green space from development.

At a planning committee meeting on August 3, councillors resolved to back a request to apply for the designation, which pledges to offer greater protection as West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) seeks to develop the land for housing.

The future of the land has divided opinions. Some councillors argued that it was an important wildlife haven that needed protection, and also suggested the site was unsuitable for housing development due to its waterlogged nature and drainage problems in nearby properties.

Cllr Michael Ireland said: “It’s a valuable area for wildlife. It’s a small preserve in an otherwise urban environment… and to build everywhere at the expense of nature I think is a mistake.”

Cllr Terry Cummings added: “The nature of the land and the amount of problems people have had in North Street, Northfield Road and Wonnacotts Road and the drainage impacts that are required on that land would make it considerably expensive for any developer to put anything on there and drain it properly.”

However, the decision to support the application was not unanimous. Other councillors argued that the lack of affordable housing in the area was a more pressing concern.

Cllr Richard Colman said: “I agree it’s a beautiful area, but we have got a lot of woodland, a lot of farmland and the park, not 15 minutes’ walk from that particular area. I understand with regards to biodiversity but in my opinion this is an opportunity to put in housing.”

An Asset of Community Value status will ensure that if the owner decides to sell the land, any interested community groups are given six months to put together a bid to buy hte land. However, the owner does not have to accept the offer and can sell to whoever they wish once the six months is up.

Josh Kopecek, who set up a petition to save Hog’s Wood as a green space, has welcomed the news, saying: “Hog’s Wood (aka Wonnacotts Meadow) is a thriving green space and community resource which has, up until now, been unrecognised. The support from WDBC and the Okehampton Town Council to give it the status of ‘Asset of Community Value’ will undoubtedly be gratefully received by local residents. Its status as an untouched green space so close to the centre of town and its rich biodiversity are huge assets to Okehampton, which should be preserved for future generations.”

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