We have launched a first stage of consultation into updating the Torbay Local Plan, and are seeking views on a range of housing related matters.

Torbay’s Local Plan was first adopted in December 2015 and sets out the strategic delivery objectives for Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, alongside policies for managing change and development in the Bay. It must be reviewed every five years.

We carried out a review of the plan in November 2020 and resolved to focus on housing policies, rather than updating the entire Local Plan.

The government sets targets for the minimum levels of housing need, and where areas are deemed to have a significant under delivery of homes they are required to take measures to boost housing numbers.

Ensuring all Torbay residents have access to good quality homes, which are affordable and meet their particular needs is a key priority for the council.

In the original Local Plan a commitment was made for the provision of 8,900 new homes by 2030, utilising brownfield sites and including mixed use developments and affordable housing. To date 2,907 new homes have been made available since 2012. Despite these efforts Torbay is still experiencing a shortfall in affordable housing which is why we resolved that increasing its housing supply was the most urgent matter that the Local Plan update needed to address.

The consultation is open between Monday 22 March and Tuesday 4 May 2021, full details are set out in the consultation document.

We are seeking evidence on:

• The approach of accepting the government’s housing need target (details set out in the Call for Evidence document)
• The environmental and market capacity to meet housing targets
• Any sites suitable for new homes or employment

Councillor Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, Torbay Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring that we improve the delivery, affordability and quality of housing and that all Torbay residents have access to good quality homes. We recognise that more needs to be done to reach our housing provision target which is why we are focusing on reviewing the housing aspect of our local plan”.   

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, Torbay Council, said: “Cabinet has reviewed our local plan and we recognise that there is a pressing need to fix the issue of housing supply, whilst continuing to protect Torbay’s spectacular environment. We want to work closely with our local communities, particularly the Neighbourhood Forums to see what can be done about this. This is the first round of public engagement and we will use feedback to prepare a draft plan, which will be put out for further consultation”.

Feedback from the consultation will help inform the preparation of a draft local plan housing update, which will be published in due course for further consultation.

More information on the Local Plan can be found on the local plan update with residents asked to submit their feedback via email to future.planning@torbay.gov.uk

We are committed to;

• Increasing the overall supply and range of housing in Torbay and make the best use of existing housing
• Ensure appropriate and affordable housing is available to meet people’s housing needs and aspirations
• Improving the environmental, economic and social sustainability of housing
• Improving the quality of housing in Torbay