The new Local Plan is being prepared using up-to-date evidence from a number of technical studies and reports, which are available below. Additional Evidence for the Local Plan Update under the Background papers section. 

Strategic Landscape Study of Torbay

As part of the evidence base for the preparation of the updated Local Plan the Council has commissioned Stephenson Halliday (an RSK Group company) to prepare a Strategic Landscape Study, comprising four related studies. The other studies are: Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (in two parts); Open Space Review (in three parts) and Review of Valued Landscapes.

The Landscape Character Assessment is the first of these interlinked studies, which will provide a tool to understand the Torbay landscape and assist in monitoring and guiding future landscape change. This report provides an update to the previous Torbay Landscape Character Assessment produced by Enderby Associates in 2010. It should be noted that the Landscape Character Assessment and its supporting studies do not make policy in their own right. They will form an important part of the evidence base to inform Torbay Council in the preparation of the Local Plan update and related strategies.

Landscape Sensitivity Assessments:

Potential Future Growth area – Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Report
This study focuses on the landscape and visual sensitivity of potential new or extended Future Growth Areas to residential and commercial development.
Wind and Solar Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Report
This study is intended as a broad assessment of landscape and visual sensitivity at a Landscape Character Type (LCT) scale considering different wind and solar development scenarios (small, medium and large).

Torbay Public Open Space Studies:

Public Open Space Study: Part 1 Urban Landscape Protection Areas (ULPA)
This study provides an analysis of the Urban Landscape Protection Areas (ULPA) that are designated in the extant Torbay Local Plan. The aim is to understand what contribution these spaces make to the landscape of Torbay.
Public OpenSpace Study Part 2 Local Green Spaces (LGS)
This study provides an analysis of the Local Green Spaces (LGS) that are designated in the Torquay, Paignton and Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plans. The aim is to understand what contribution these spaces make to the landscape of Torbay. It does not address the criteria that are not related to landscape.
Public OpenSpace Study Part 3 Public Open Spaces (POS)
This study provides an analysis of the Public Open Spaces (POS) that are designated in the Brixham Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan1. The overall aim is to understand what contribution these spaces make to the landscape of Torbay. This study does not address the criteria that are not related to landscape.

Review of Valued Landscapes:

Review of Valued Landscapes
This report provides initial guidance on criteria-based approaches to identification and designation of valued landscapes in Torbay.

Recreation impact report

Recreation impacts and the Lyme Bay and Torbay Special Area of Conservation / Marine Conservation Zone
Natural England’s advice on the current situation regarding recreational impacts on the Lyme Bay and Torbay SAC (sent by email dated 13th July 2022)

Heritage Impact Assessment

Read the full site heritage impact assessments (HIAs).

Agricultural land studies