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.
The Local Plan Update is supported by a number of technical studies, topic papers and reports. These are available below.
Housing
Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA)
Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA)
Employment
13947Retail and Town Centres
11249,11103Provides up to date evidence on retail land use and town centre health issues for an update to the Torbay Local Plan.
Appendices for the main 2022 Torbay Retail Study.
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:
10643,10396This 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).
This study focuses on the landscape and visual sensitivity of potential new or extended Future Growth Areas to residential and commercial development.
Torbay Public Open Space Studies:
11536,11620,11693This 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.
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.
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:
10851,29979This report provides initial guidance on criteria-based approaches to identification and designation of valued landscapes in Torbay.
Torbay Local Plan South Hams SAC Greater Horseshoe bat evidence study - key findings report
Recreation impact report
11316,11437Heritage Impact Assessment
Read the full site heritage impact assessments (HIAs).
Agricultural land studies
A strategic study of the potential loss of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land to housing and employment allocations in the Local Plan, and it forms part of the Local Plan evidence base.
A strategic study of the potential loss of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land to housing and employment allocations in the Local Plan, and it forms part of the Local Plan evidence base.
Wildlife screening assessment
28774This report provides an assessment of the future sewer capacity in Torbay