Local Plan Update (2025 to 2045)

Torbay Local Plan Update (2025 to 2045): A Landscape to Thrive

Coming soon: Have your say on Torbay's emerging Local Plan

We will soon ask residents, businesses and stakeholders to have their say on the next stage of the emerging Local Plan.

The Regulation 19 consultation opens in August. We will confirm the exact date. The consultation asks if the plan is ready to move to the next stage, which is the independent examination.

The Local Plan will guide how Torbay develops up to 2045. Once adopted, it will become the legal starting point for deciding planning applications. It will help make sure that Torbay grows in a way that supports:

• sustainable communities
• economic prosperity
• environmental protection.

Regulation 18 Consultation

The consultation comes after the Regulation 18 consultation, which took place from November 2025 to January 2026. During that stage, we asked residents, businesses and stakeholders what they thought of the draft Local Plan.

To shape Regulation 19, we used:

• feedback from Regulation 18
• updated evidence and assessments completed in 2026

View the Regulation 18 Consultation review.

Regulation 19 Consultation

The Regulation 19 consultation is different from the previous stage.

This time, we will ask whether the plan:

• is the right plan for Torbay
• is based on the right evidence
• meets national planning policy and legislation
• is ready to be examined by a Planning Inspector appointed by the Government

We will review the comments we receive before we prepare the final draft of the Torbay Local Plan. Full Council will consider the final draft in December 2026. If approved, we will submit it to the Secretary of State.

After submission, the plan will be independently examined. We expect that it will be adopted in 2027/28.

What happens next

Look out for our press releases, newsletter and social media updates in the next few weeks.

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