In the last 12 months, 89.7% of householder applications were approved in Torbay (165 decided). A typical householder decision takes about twelve weeks (median 85 days).
Full planning applications: 79.0% approved (100 decided).
Across all application types on record (2023-01-08–2026-07-02): 81.8% of 2,985 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tree Works (TPO) | 965 | 832 | 133 | |
| Householder | 811 | 666 | 145 | |
| Full Planning Application | 442 | 324 | 118 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 124 | 92 | 32 | |
| Telecommunications | 114 | 114 | 0 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 105 | 80 | 25 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 100 | 86 | 14 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 97 | 85 | 12 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 75 | 46 | 29 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 60 | 49 | 11 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 36 | 25 | 11 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| Major Planning Application | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| Outline Planning | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| Reserved Matters | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
| Regulation 4 Application - Torbay | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
| Regulation 3 Application - Torbay | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Permission In Principle | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Telecommunications - Outside Cons. Area | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Demolition | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Uncategorised | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Variation of S106 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Notification from National Grid | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Temporary Holiday Site | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Notification from Network Rail | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Technical Details Consent (minor) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 227 | 184 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 224 | 188 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 229 | 185 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 255 | 196 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 249 | 192 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 258 | 219 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 216 | 188 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 229 | 193 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 264 | 219 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 229 | 195 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 200 | 170 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 36 | 28 | |
| 2026-Q3 | 1 | 1 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellswood | 513 | 416 | 97 | |
| Tormohun | 349 | 281 | 68 | |
| St Marychurch | 247 | 205 | 42 | |
| Cockington With Chelston | 236 | 199 | 37 | |
| Preston | 197 | 167 | 30 | |
| Churston With Galmpton | 195 | 159 | 36 | |
| Roundham With Hyde | 182 | 146 | 36 | |
| Furzeham With Summercombe | 176 | 148 | 28 | |
| St Peters With St Marys | 170 | 146 | 24 | |
| Barton With Watcombe | 158 | 122 | 36 | |
| Shiphay | 141 | 121 | 20 | |
| Ellacombe | 120 | 92 | 28 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.