The Torbay Sustainability checklist is intended to be used by developers, design teams, consultants and contractors
The aim of the checklist is to ensure integrated consideration of sustainability principles at an early stage of development proposals and allow applicants to clearly demonstrate how they have met the requirements of the relevant sustainability policies in the Torbay Local Plan. The checklist should be used at an early stage and accompany pre-application discussions to reduce costly re-design at later stages.
The checklist indicates the quality of development in line with the requirements of the Torbay Local Plan through a red/amber/green approach. These work together across each theme and will be assessed alongside each other holistically. Each theme will be assessed by Officers in the context of other factors and planning considerations that may be unique to a development, allowing some flexibility in the assessment. There may be situations where certain elements of the checklist do not apply, for example change of use applications. The applicant is expected to provide further explanations where necessary.
Proposals which demonstrate high quality sustainability standards will be afforded significant weight in planning decisions and experience a smoother planning process. Exemplar schemes may be shared by the Council as case studies in the Healthy Bay Supplementary Planning Document.
Relevant national and local planning policies and guidance have been included in the introductory text of each section, these will be updated to reflect any changes should they occur.