Have your say on how Torbay can work with developers to get the best for future housing developments

This consultation has now closed. Thank you for all of the responses we have received. We will now be reviewing the responses and preparing a final version of the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing SPD to present to Torbay Council's Cabinet for decision making which is expected to be by the end of 2022.

Do you want to help make sure Torbay gets the most from its funding from developers for things like new schools, parks, cycle-paths and other infrastructure when working on new developments?

Residents, developers and other local stakeholders are being given the chance to have their say on an important new document that will outline how Torbay Council seeks financial contributions from developers when new developments are being planned. Contributions from developers can be used to help fund a range of infrastructure such as education, transport, public open spaces, roads, healthcare and much more.

The Council has launched this survey on the proposed new Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This feedback is needed to provide a temporary update to developer contributions, prior to a more comprehensive review of planning policy through the proposed new Local Plan for Torbay. The new Local Plan will not be adopted before 2024 and there will be further consultation on this starting in the autumn.

Planning obligations (also called Section 106 agreements) are legal agreements whereby a developer makes contributions towards infrastructure. By law they must be necessary to make developments acceptable in planning terms. Planning obligations are the main way that affordable housing is provided.

The updated SPD incorporates recent changes to national planning policy, and adds guidance on priorities such as the climate emergency, special needs education and marine ecology.

The SPD does not make new planning policy. It provides guidance on implementing existing policy in the Adopted Torbay Local Plan 2012-30 and the three Neighbourhood Plans. Changes to planning policy can however be considered as part of the Local Plan consultation coming up in the autumn.

You can read the draft SPD by clicking the link under 'Documents' on the right side of this page. You do not need to read the whole document before responding. It might be helpful to read the introduction and any particular sections that interest you.

The consultation is now open and will close at midday on Monday 3^rd October. Please respond by answering the survey below. You can also email written responses to future.planning@torbay.gov.uk.

Please have a look at the Key Dates on the right to see what happens after the consultation closes.

Finally, please share this consultation with anyone else you know who might want to respond.