Devon plant firm digs in over land row

Sign erected

A Devon business owner is digging in over a row about a parcel of land he has had to agree to give up without so far securing any cash for it.

Tony Joyner, who owns Plants Galore, said he had been “incredibly patient” but had reached the point where he felt putting two large signs up on the land was his only course of action.

The crux of the dispute relates to a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for a part of Mr Joyner’s land near his Newton Abbot store, which Devon County Council needs as part of its major improvement scheme for the A382.

Mr Joyner claims he has “never received a financial offer” for the land.

“It feels like nobody is treating it as urgent as it doesn’t stop their plans,” he said.

“My only way of protesting is to put the signs up.”

Devon County Council said it was unable to comment on the issue.

Stags has been acting for Mr Joyner for around eight months on the dispute – taking over from a previous land agent – and the business owner said since the signs have been put up, his agent had received paperwork.

The saga stretches back to 2010 when shortly after securing planning permission for a prospective “luxury six-bedroom” family home on the now contentious land, Mr Joyner was informed of the CPO.

He states he was told not to build the property because it would not be included in any financial settlement linked to the CPO if he did.

This led My Joyner and his family to move to his parents’ house in 2014, building a temporary property there in the belief they would soon receive a payment for the land.

After around 10 years there, they eventually moved to Torquay in 2024.

“I’ve had three children since this all began,” Mr Joyner added, noting that his father, who was 75 when the saga started, would not see a resolution due to his recent death at 91.

Mr Joyner said he “wanted a sensible outcome”.

Besides meeting representatives on site twice when works were taking place, Mr Joyner claims he has “never been invited to discuss a financial offer – ever”.

The land at the centre of the row is understood to measure around 613 square metres, equivalent to about 0.15 acres, and it is required for part of a much broader highways upgrade scheme for the A382, including at Forches Cross where the Joyners’ business is located.

The housing charity Shelter states in its guide on CPOs that once one has been confirmed, the acquiring authority can implement it through a series of possible actions.

One of those is a notice to treat and notice of entry, which, Shelter states, give the owner or occupier of the land the opportunity to claim compensation, while with a general vesting declaration (through which ownership of the land is transferred), compensation can be dealt with later.

It’s understood that a notice to treat and notice of entry were issued in January 2024, which allowed for phone cable works to be conducted on the land.

Near the end of 2024, it appears that there were instructions to “progress negotiations” with an aim to “agree and settle the compensation payable”, although Mr Joyner claims there has just been “deliberate delays”. 

Some unexpected issues emerged in late 2024 when the Department for Transport (DfT) deferred major road network scheme funding in the run-up to the general election that year.

Public documents from Devon County Council state that a revised business case was submitted to the DfT in March 2025, which was approved in July that year, allowing construction to start in autumn last year.

This funding relates to the remaining elements of the A382 scheme, which involve widening the road between Stover (Ice House Copse) and Forches Cross to “increase capacity, ease congestion and improve safety”.

A pedestrian and cycle route will link to Stover School and the A382/A383 Link Road and a new roundabout will be developed north of Forches Cross.

The Jetty Marsh II Link Road connection will provide a new road between Whitehill Cross and West Golds Way, and a shared pedestrian and cycle path.

A document from 2015 names Stover School, Stover Country Park, Stover Golf Club, mining firm Sibelco, private dwellings and local farmers as among the affected landowners. Several holes on the golf course were relocated due to the A382 works.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said it was unable to comment.