Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan 2025 Online Version and Consultation

Support

Representation ID: 1004

Received: 05/02/2026

Respondent: Natural England (Statutory / General Consultation Body)

Allocation comments for bats
• H3BCG.3 / EIB.2: The site lies within a sustenance zone and contains a recognised radio-tracked Greater Horseshoe Bat flight path, as shown on the Devon Environment Viewer. This route runs through woodland within the northern part of the site and along
its southern boundary. Torbay Council should consider whether these constraints affect the deliverability or intended purpose of the allocation.

Support

Representation ID: 1005

Received: 05/02/2026

Respondent: Natural England (Statutory / General Consultation Body)

Bat Policy Comments
Natural England welcomes and supports the requirements and level of detail in Policies NCS2 and NC4.

Support

Representation ID: 1006

Received: 05/02/2026

Respondent: Natural England (Statutory / General Consultation Body)

GI in Local Services and Everyday Nature Contact
Natural England recommends a requirement for designing high quality GI into the footprints of local services such as health centres, schools and community hubs. Evidence shows that spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature is associated with improved health and wellbeing. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.
Designing incidental nature contact into everyday journeys—such as short circular walking routes, wellbeing gardens and biodiverse planting around public buildings—can help communities achieve this threshold.

There are many examples of good practice where GP surgeries have developed wellbeing gardens and nearby walking routes to support patient and staff wellbeing. The NHS Green Spaces and Biodiversity Toolkit NHS Green spaces and Biodiversity toolkit. provides further guidance.
Incorporating these principles into the Local Plan would support improved health outcomes and contribute to wider nature recovery.