We have launched a consultation on the Brixham Town Conservation Area, as part of the wider Torbay Heritage Strategy.

Brixham is the first area we will be consulting with, thanks to a major new partnership with National Lottery Heritage Fund’s ‘Heritage Places’ scheme. The Council recently entered into the new 10-year partnership with the Heritage Fund to support heritage within the Bay and to deliver the aims of the Torbay Heritage Strategy which includes the updating of our existing conservation area appraisals, specifically those related to the Brixham Town, Paignton Old Town and Torquay Harbour Conservation Areas.

Councillor Jackie Thomas, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Culture & Events and Corporate Services said: “We are pleased to be able to launch the first of our Conservation Area public consultations, starting with Brixham and I would strongly encourage as many people to have their say as possible.

“The partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s ‘Heritage Places’ scheme and the investment it brings is very exciting.

“As a council we are committed to protecting and celebrating our local heritage and this work will also complement a range of other projects currently taking place in the Bay, such as the Public Realm works in Torquay and Paignton and investment in Brixham Harbour, as well as the Torbay Heritage Strategy 2021-2026.”

Councils are required to undertake and publish assessments of conservation areas, known as appraisals, from time to time and consult with the public on the proposed changes.

Conservation Areas are defined as “areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. They’re designed to help protect the characteristics of a specific area, including their architectural and historic interests, which make them a distinctive and unique place.

Boundary changes are proposed in some areas of the conservation area to account for unmanaged incremental changes which have, over time, diluted the character of an area; or to include areas of architectural and historic interest.

The review recommends the following boundary changes:

Inclusions:

1. Furzeham Primary and Nursery School
2. Terraced properties at North Furzeham Road, Higher Furzeham Road, Bella Vista Road, Alma Road and Holborn Road

Exclusions:

1. Development to the south of Bolton Street
2. Terraced properties on Garlic Rea, Rea House and south side of Elkins Hill
3. Battery Gardens, Oxen Cove, Northern Quay and environs.

The consultation period will run from 12 December 2024 to 16 January 2025 with comments to be made online via the Torbay Council website.

Alternatively, comments can be made via email to conservation@torbay.gov.uk, by drop off to Brixham Library or by post to Heritage and Design Team, Planning Department, Torbay Council, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay TQ1 3DR. There will also be some paper copies of the survey available at Brixham Library and Brixham Town Council offices.

Have your say via our online survey.