Torbay & South Devon Sub-Regional Study

A range of planning options for Torbay and South Devon during the next 20 years is under the spotlight.

In 2004, the Government made fundamental changes to the way in which the South West Region is planned. Under the old system, structure plans (currently the Devon Structure Plan 2001-2016) set out broad-brush development strategies, including numbers of new houses to be built, amount of employment land to be provided and policies for protecting the environment. Under the new system such matters will be determined regionally by a new type of plan, called the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The Draft RSS was published in Spring 2006 and the Examination in Public (EiP) took place during Spring/Summer 2007. The Panel Report was published on 10th January 2008. The final RSS is likely to be approved by the Secretary of State in mid 2008.

In order to inform the RSS, local authorities in the area set up a joint working group to look at various options for the growth of the South Devon area around Torbay, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Totnes. A public consultation exercise, and other events were carried out in Spring 2005.  

The joint working group prepared a Report which was submitted to the Regional Assembly in June 2005.

A Strategic Sustainability Appraisal of the Torbay and South Devon Sub-Regional Study has also been carried out.

This document will feed into the broader Sustainability Appraisal of the RSS.

Finally, as a '4(4)' Authority (a former Structure Plan Authority), Torbay Council has a duty to provide technical advice to the Regional Assembly on the emerging RSS. The Council’s initial 4(4) First Detailed Proposals contained information on strategic issues pertaining to Torbay (employment, housing, etc). It was approved by the Council and then submitted to the Regional Assembly in September 2006. The Council have subsequently provided technical advice on revised household projections (January 2007). The Council attended specific sessions of the EiP.

The sub-regional study’s findings and outcomes of the 4(4) response for the RSS will also inform the emerging local development frameworks for the South Devon local planning authorities. Over the next three years, these will replace local plans and will form the basis for determining planning applications.

Related Documents

Report of the Torbay and South Devon Joint Study Area Working Party

Strategic Sustainability Appraisal of the Torbay and South Devon Sub-Regional Study Scoping Report

Appendix 1 (Plans and Programmes Review)

Appendix 2 (Baseline Information)

Appendix 3 (Indicators)

Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report of the Torbay and South Devon Sub-Regional Study

Appendix 3 (Vision and sustainable development principles)

Appendix 4 (Preferred option, way ahead and infrastructure requirements)

Torbay Council's 4(4) response to the Regional Assembly

4(4) Advice on New Household Projections (January 2007)

Technical Appendices

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