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National and local requirements

Find out about the national and local information requirements that must be submitted for different types of planning application in Torbay.

We recommend that you seek the services of a professional architect if you are applying for planning permission. If you are not employing an architect, please follow the advice below to ensure that your application is correct. 

National requirements 

The national requirements for the submission of planning applications are set out in the Development Management Procedure Order. This states that in order for a planning application to be valid the following must be submitted: 

  • Relevant application form completed in full. This must include signed Ownership Certificate, Agricultural Land Declaration and Declaration (original and one copy unless submitted electronically) 
  • Appropriate fee 

Accompanied by following plans/documents: 

  • Site Location Plans - Not required for applications to remove or vary conditions or applications where the development has already been carried out  
  • A Flood Risk Assessment 
  • A Design and Access Statement if necessary 
  • Any other plans, drawings and information necessary to describe the development. 

Local requirements 

As well as the national requirements, we have our own requirements reflecting the character and the nature of Torbay. We need to achieve high quality development in such a unique place. 

We will not always need the documents and plans listed. It will depend on the specific circumstances of the development. We provide information in the tables describing when you should include each document or plan in the submission. We do however, encourage applicants to carry out a pre-application enquiry. This is to confirm the content of the application.

Guidance on the local requirements for planning applications in Torbay