Residents, organisations and businesses are being asked to have their say on changes to a local community group.

Torquay Neighbourhood Forum (TNF) has made an application to Torbay Council to ask for the re-designation because Forums have to be renewed every five years.

A designated Neighbourhood Forum is an organisation or group empowered by the council to lead the neighbourhood planning process in a designated Neighbourhood Area.

Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said: “I would encourage local people in the Torquay area, to have your say on this consultation. If designated, the Forum will continue to have an important role in local decision making.”

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, said: “Neighbourhood Forums play an important role in the local Neighbourhood Area. If the new TNF is approved, the Forum will be able to draft policies or revise the Torquay Neighbourhood Plan.”

Some facts about the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum application

• The last application and designation for the Neighbourhood Area and Forum was in 2017.
• This Forum designation has now expired and needs renewing, due to Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended) and section 61F of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990).
• The Torquay Neighbourhood boundary remains as a designated Neighbourhood Area and no changes are proposed. 
• Torquay Neighbourhood Plan was adopted (made) in 2019 and forms part of the Torbay Development Plan, which is used, alongside the Council’s own planning policy documents, to make decisions on planning decisions in the designated Neighbourhood Area. The Forum status does not affect the validity of the Area or Neighbourhood Plan.

You can have your say on the online survey here or you can also email future.planning@torbay.gov.uk

The consultation closes on Monday 23 January 2023.

Further information

Neighbourhood Plans

Torquay Neighbourhood Plan 

Neighbourhood Planning (on GOV.UK)