North Devon Council and Torridge District Council Notice of Scoping Consultation

The North Devon and Torridge planning authorities are preparing a new joint local plan.

In accordance with regulation 20 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, the planning authorities hereby give notice that the local plan scoping consultation commences on 30 June 2026 and closes at 17:00 on 11 August 2026.

This notice was prepared by North Devon Council and Torridge District Council and made available on 30 June 2026.

What the local plan scoping consultation contains

The purpose of the consultation is to give communities and other stakeholders an early opportunity to influence the preparation of the new local plan.

During the consultation period, the planning authorities are inviting representations from relevant 'specific' and 'general' consultation bodies on:

• such matters relevant to the preparation of the local plan as the authority or body consider appropriate, including what the plan should contain; and
• how the authority should engage with them in the preparation of the local plan.

Any person may make representations to the authorities about the above matters.

Documents

Information to help consultees respond can be found in a Scoping Consultation Document and supporting documents, available on the shared local plan webpage, accessed via:

• www.torridge.gov.uk/peopleandplace or www.northdevon.gov.uk/peopleandplace.

Copies are  available for inspection at the following offices:

• Barnstaple Town Centre Hub,38 Green Lanes Shopping Centre, Barnstaple, EX31 1UL

Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00

• Riverbank House,Bideford,EX39 2QG

Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 16:30

• The Amory Centre,125 East Street, South Molton, EX36 3BU

Thursday, 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00

• The Ilfracombe Centre,44 High Street, Ilfracombe, EX34 9QB

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00

Copies are also available for inspection at the following libraries: Appledore, Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, Holsworthy, Northam, South Molton, and Torrington. Details of the opening times and locations of the libraries can be found at https://discover.librariesunlimited.org.uk/our-libraries

How to make representations

The primary method to respond to is by submission of a questionnaire, through the authorities' online portal, via either:

• www.torridge.gov.uk/peopleandplace or
• www.northdevon.gov.uk/peopleandplace
• Once signed in on the portal, consultees can submit the questionnaire. 

Representations may also be sent via email to either: 

• [email protected] or
• [email protected]

Or they can also be made by hard copy to either:

• North Devon Planning Policy Team, North Devon District Council, Lynton House, Commercial Road, Barnstaple, EX31 1DG or
• Torridge Planning Policy Team, Torridge District Council, Riverbank House, Bideford, EX39 2QG
• Hard copies of the questionnaire can be provided upon request.

The deadline for representations

• Representations must be received before 17:00 on 11 August 2026.

Requests for notification

Consultees may request to be notified at a specified address when one or more of the following occur:

1. the making available of proposed local plan content and evidence under regulation 23(1)(b) (consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence);
2. the publication of observations or advice under section 15CA(5) of the Act;
3. the making available of the proposed local plan submission documents under regulation 27(1)(b) (consultation on the proposed local plan);
4. the submission of the proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination under section 15D(1) of the Act;
5. the making available of the matters specified in regulation 35(2) in accordance with regulation 35(1)(a) (independent examination: local plans);
6. a decision of the examiner under section 15D(7) of the Act that the examination under that section is to be paused under section 15DA of the Act for further work to be carried out;
7. the publication under section 15DA(7) of the Act of the document and any evidence which is sent to the examiner under section 15DA(6);
8. the publication of the recommendations and reasons of the examiner received under section 15D or section 15DA of the Act, in accordance with section 15D(13) or section 15DA(10);
9. the adoption or approval of the local plan under Part 2 of the Act.

Consultees also have the option to subscribe to the authorities' People and Place e-bulletin for regular local plan updates.

Questions and further information

If you have any questions regarding the consultation or would like any further information or assistance, please contact our Planning Policy teams via: [email protected] or [email protected].