8. Joint habitat mitigation approach
Teignbridge District Council, East Devon District Council and Exeter City Council have joined together to form the?South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee? that works across the three authority areas to protect the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths for future generations to enjoy.
The Committee works with partners including Natural England, Clinton Devon Estates, National Trust, RSPB, Exe Estuary Management Partnership and Devon Wildlife Trust to off-set the effects of new developments and population growth on these protected conservation sites.
Funding comes from developer contributions on new residential development within a 10km "zone of influence" from the protected sites. Habitat mitigation contributions required by the three councils are consistent across the council areas depending on development location.
The need for the habitat mitigation contributions and the measures to address development impact were originally established through the 2014?Joint South East Devon European Site Mitigation Strategy. A new strategy was adopted in 2025 called the South East Devon Wildlife - Joint Habitats Sites Mitigation Strategy.