Torbay Council has introduced the English Riviera Beach Standards (ERBS), a new locally designed and managed framework that celebrates the diversity of the Bay’s coastline while strengthening environmental protection and safeguarding water quality.

Developed specifically for our long-term needs, the ERBS provides a modern approach to coastal management that supports biodiversity, enhances safety, increases transparency and strengthens community involvement. It replaces the previous national one-size-fits-all criteria, which no longer reflected the character or community use of many Torbay beaches. The approach allows each location to be recognised for its strengths, without disadvantaging beaches that do not fit traditional resort-style expectations.

The new system gives us full ownership of its coastline, ensuring decisions are shaped by local priorities and evidence across the Bay’s 27 accessible beaches and coves that make up the English Riviera. Of these, 25 beaches are being awarded under the Standards this year, with Preston and Paignton temporarily not included while improvement works progress. Both beaches are set to join ERBS once these works have been completed.

Under the new system, beaches fall into three categories:

• Excellence – beaches with strong visitor facilities, consistently high standards and excellent water quality.
• Quality – beaches offering a positive visitor experience without requiring extensive built infrastructure with good to excellent water quality.
• Natural – wild, undeveloped coastal locations recognised for environmental value, tranquillity and biodiversity.

Beaches such as Maidencombe and Anstey’s Cove are formally recognised under the new Quality category. These locations previously stepped away from national award schemes to maintain dog access, but under the ERBS they are celebrated for their scenic beauty, accessibility and natural coastal character. This ensures a fuller and more accurate reflection of the Bay’s coastline and its diverse range of beaches.

With an exceptional 13 beaches rated ‘Excellent’ for water quality, the English Riviera stands among the country’s leading coastal destinations. As part of the ERBS, water quality remains a central focus, with all statutory bathing water testing in Torbay carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) at the designated bathing waters: Maidencombe, Watcombe, Oddicombe, Babbacombe, Anstey’s Cove, Meadfoot, Beacon Cove, Torre Abbey, Hollicombe, Preston, Paignton, Goodrington, Broadsands, Breakwater and St Mary’s Bay.

As part of its national monitoring programme, the EA undertakes a minimum of ten water-quality samples each bathing season at these sites. Under the ERBS, Torbay Council will ensure that any designated bathing water participating in the scheme continues to meet this minimum requirement of ten EA samples per season. This guarantees that all Excellence and Quality standard participating beaches benefit from consistent, independent and nationally recognised water quality monitoring. To support transparency, four years of EA bathing water results for ERBS beaches will be published on our website, helping residents and visitors clearly understand local water quality and how ERBS classifications are determined.

Because the ERBS is developed and managed locally, it reflects the specific characteristics and challenges of Torbay’s coastline. To maintain impartiality and support shared governance, Torbay Council will establish a Beach Stakeholder Forum involving partners such as the tourism sector and the RNLI. This ensures community and expert voices play an active role in how the Standards develop over time. The English Riviera BID Company contributed as consultees throughout the development of the ERBS and expressed their support for the proposal.

Environmental protection runs throughout the framework, which supports proportionate, evidence-based management that avoids environmental harm. It recognises and protects seagrass beds, sensitive marine habitats, natural cliff and cove formations and biodiversity-rich beaches that are best preserved in their undeveloped state. Natural beaches will be marked with onsite plaques and supported by additional online information, highlighting that these locations are valued precisely for their wild and untouched character.

The ERBS avoids restrictive zoning that separates swimmers, paddlers and other water users. Instead, it introduces a tailored, risk-based safety approach suited to the nature of each beach. Torbay will also launch annual sea-safety campaigns featuring windsocks at relevant beaches, seasonal safety boards and clear, locally informed guidance.

Councillor Adam Billings, Cabinet Member for Pride in Place and Parking, said:

“Torbay’s coastline is one of our greatest assets, and these new English Riviera Beach Standards ensure we are protecting, celebrating, and investing in it in the right way. By designing a system built around our own needs, we can recognise the full diversity of our beaches, from our busiest family destinations to our quiet natural coves."

"This represents a modern and forward-looking approach to managing our coastline - enhancing transparency, safeguarding the environment, and giving residents and visitors clearer, more reliable information to support their time at the beach. It will also strengthen Torbay’s environmental commitments, including our dedication to the UNESCO Global Geopark, and support our ambition to become a more sustainable visitor destination."

"By recognising the strengths of every beach, the ERBS plays a key role in delivering clean, safe, and well-maintained seafronts, ensuring these spaces remain welcoming and enjoyable for everyone. It improves the visitor experience through clearer standards and consistent management, while protecting the places that matter most to our residents, reinforcing pride in where we live and safeguarding the coastline for future generations.”

By creating a system built around the Bay’s needs, Torbay is setting a new standard for coastal stewardship, ensuring its beaches remain welcoming, safe and environmentally protected for generations to come.

 Find out more information online: www.tor-bay-harbour.co.uk/leisure/beaches-and-coastline/