Torbay with its rich urban heritage contains 24 designated conservation areas:

• 16 in Torquay
• 4 in Paignton
• 4 in Brixham

Eight were designated in the 1970s, thirteen in the 1980s, and one in 2001. A number have been revised and extended since their original designation.

Conservation areas vary widely in their nature, character and extent. For example:

• Barton is less then 3 hectares
• Lincombes is larger than 101 hectares
• Maidencombe is largely rural
• Torre and Tormohun from inner Torquay are solidly urban
• Old Paignton are nucleated (formed around a central area)
• Brixham Town and Higher Brixham reflect ribbon developments
• Shorton has historic antecedents and is now entirely subsumed into a 20th-century townscape
• Chelston is almost entirely the creation of the late-19th century

Using the Character Appraisals

The appraisals provide a sound basis for development control and in the targeting of any improvement initiatives, such as heritage economic regeneration schemes (HERs), or townscape heritage initiatives (THIs). The appraisals do not seek to prevent change, but they do act as a tool in managing it, by providing a reference and benchmark of the special character.

For example applications for buildings, extensions, replacements and the use of materials will be judged against the simple criterion ‘Does it improve or enhance the special character or interest of the conservation area?’ Schemes which do not meet this test are unlikely to be approved. Wider management issues, such as dereliction, the reversal of chronic economic decline or comprehensive redevelopment will be addressed in a separate Conservation Area Management Plan, the second element of the dynamic process, but will arise out of the appraisal’s assessments.

19016

Abbey Road CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Abbey Road in Torquay.

Babbacombe Downs CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Babbacombe Downs in Torquay.

Barton CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Barton in Torquay.

Belgravia CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Belgravia in Torquay.

Caring for Cockington
A conservation and environment guide for Cockington in Torquay.

Cary Park CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Cary Park in Torquay.

Chelston CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Chelston in Torquay.

Cockington
The conservation area appraisal for Cockington in Torquay.

Higher Brixham
The conservation area appraisal for Higher Brixham in Torquay.

Lincombes CAA Map
A map of the conservation area for the Lincombes in Torquay.

Maidencombe CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Maidencombe in Torquay.

Old Paignton CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Old Paignton.

Polsham
The conservation area appraisal for Polsham in Paignton.

Roundham and Paignton Harbour CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Roundham and the Harbour in Paignton.

Shorton CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Shorton in Paignton.

St Marychurch CAA
The conservation area appraisal for St Marychurch in Torquay.

Tormohun
The conservation area appraisal for Tormohun in Torquay.

Torquay Harbour
The conservation area appraisal for the harbour in Torquay.

Torre CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Torre in Torquay.

Upton CAA
The conservation area appraisal for Upton in Torquay.

Warberries CAA
The conservation area appraisal for the Warberries in Torquay.

Watcombe Park
The conservation area appraisal for Watcombe Park in Torquay.