Residents invited to help shape new local plan for North Devon and Torridge
People across North Devon and Torridge are being invited to help shape the future of the area, as its district councils start work on a new local plan.
Through the People and Place project, North Devon and Torridge district councils are starting to prepare a new local plan which will set out the long-term vision for the area over the next two-to-three decades.
The plan will shape how towns and villages grow, where new homes and jobs could be located, and how important issues like transport, flooding and climate change are managed - all while protecting the area's landscapes.
Titled A Plan for Northern Devon, it will be used alongside national planning policy to determine which developments will and will not be allowed.
Residents have the opportunity to shape and influence the plan at three key stages. The first stage, known as a scoping consultation, is now under way.
The questionnaire asks residents, businesses and groups how the plan can support communities to grow and thrive, what they value about northern Devon and the issues they feel are most important.
The six-week consultation is now open and will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Councillor Robert Hicks, Chair of the North Devon and Torridge Joint Planning Policy Committee, said:
"This scoping consultation is an important first step for this new plan, although it is important to note that we are not making decisions about specific sites at this stage. Instead, we want to hear from local residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders about the key issues they're facing in the area.''
"The feedback we receive will help us understand what matters most to our communities and ensure that the foundation of the new plan reflects local priorities. We are hoping as many people as possible will take part and share their views, so we can create a plan that supports both the future needs and aspirations of our area."
Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Vice-Chair of the North Devon and Torridge Joint Planning Policy Committee, said:
"Creating a new local plan is the start of an exciting new chapter for our area, giving us the opportunity to influence how our home grows and evolves over the next couple of decades.''
"This affects everyone who lives, works and visits here, which is why we want as many people as possible to get involved early by taking part in this consultation, and those that will follow, to help shape the plan and make it a true reflection of our incredible communities."
Residents can take part in the consultation by visiting the North Devon and Torridge Consultation Portal and completing the questionnaire.
People can also submit comments in the following ways:
- By email to [email protected] or [email protected]
- By post to North Devon Council Planning Policy Team, North Devon Council, Lynton House, Commercial Road, Barnstaple, EX31 1DG; or Torridge Planning Policy Team, Torridge District Council, Riverbank House, Bideford, EX39 2QG
- Completing a paper copy, which is available at the Town Centre Hub in Barnstaple's Green Lanes Shopping Centre, the Ilfracombe Centre, the Amory Centre in South Molton, and Riverbank House in Bideford
More information about the People and Place project is available at northdevon.gov.uk/peopleandplace or torridge.gov.uk/peopleandplace
June 2026
