A DISTRICT councillor is appealing for support to protect the Teign Estuary.

Bishopsteignton member Cllr Andrew MacGregor is putting forward a motion to fellow Teignbridge councillors to make the Teign Estuary a designated Natural Landscape.

Previously known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the designation is the highest level of statutory landscape protection available in England outside of National Parks.

Cllr MacGregor explained that the South Devon AONB, designated in 1960, encompasses five closely comparable estuaries but not the Teign.

His notice to next week’s meeting of Teignbridge full council says: ‘The Teign Estuary is, on any objective analysis of the Natural England criteria for National Landscape designation, of equivalent quality and national significance to the landscapes that surround it and are already protected.’

It continues: ‘The time to act is now: the combination of increasing development pressure, an intensifying housing delivery obligation, and the ongoing erosion of the estuary facing slopes by incremental development makes further delay both unnecessary and harmful.

‘The natural beauty, cultural heritage, ecological importance, and scenic quality of the Teign Estuary are of national significance and warrant the highest level of statutory landscape protection available.’

Cllr MacGregor says the need for the protection is ‘urgent’.

He explained: ‘Recent Government inquiries have highlighted the damage to ecology and the environment.

‘This application would seek to place greater protection on the environment.

‘Often when legacy is discussed, it’s about services, housing or roads. Fewer and fewer legacies focus on what makes life enjoyable like our wildlife, our rolling hills, fields and the estuary itself.

‘The Teign Estuary is a gem in Devon’s landscape. We should protect it for future generations to enjoy.’

He added that there have been ‘significant failures’ by planners to protect significant natural assets.

Examples, he said, include land adjacent to Indio House in Bovey Tracey which was developed resulting the loss of one of two sites of MG5 grassland in Devon.

The most high profile and long running example is Wolborough Fen Site of Special Scientific Interest which is due to be heard at a planning appeal next month.

Cllr MacGregor added: ‘Applying for a Natural Landscape designation adds additional protections which cannot be as easily sidestepped.’

In response to Cllr MacGregor’s motion, Teignbridge Council’s head of Strategy and Partnerships said: ‘The proposal presents a potentially significant opportunity to secure enhanced national recognition and protection for the Teign Estuary and could support environmental, heritage, tourism and place-shaping objectives.

‘However, pursuing designation would require a substantial commitment of council resources, both during the application process and on an ongoing basis if designation were achieved.

‘The timing of the proposal also coincides with the transition to new local government arrangements, creating uncertainty around governance, resources and the long-term sponsorship of any application.’

The application process would require significant financial investment, with estimated costs of approximately £230,000 to £280,000 for evidence gathering, technical assessments, consultation and project management.

Cllr MacGregor’s motion goes before Teignbridge Council next week.