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  • The Tavistock Plan MAY 2025

    Click Below to read the Design Code and Plan

    Tavistock PLAN: Design Code

    Tavistock PLAN

    EASY READ: Summary of the Plan

    Referendum Passed – Resounding Yes!
    87.7% YES
    A BIG Thank you to Tavistock residents who voted in favour of adopting the Neighbourhood Plan.
    You can watch  the official announcement in the video below:
    Video Of the Result
    Referendum result details on West Devon Borough Council website
    What Happens Now?Q&A: Next Steps, Implementation, Oversight and Review

    Q1: What happens now that the NDP has passed the referendum?
    A: The plan will be formally adopted (or “made”) by West Devon Borough Council (WDBC), becoming part of the statutory development plan for the area. This means it must be considered in all planning decisions affecting the parish.

    Q2: Who adopts the plan and how?
    A: WDBC, as the lead Local Planning Authority, formally adopts the plan at a full council meeting. It is anticipated that this will be done at the June (2025) council meeting. This ensures the plan has full legal weight in the planning system.

    Q3: What is Tavistock Town Council’s role now that the plan is in force?
    A: Tavistock Town Council is the local custodian of the plan. It monitors how well planning applications comply with the plan’s policies and makes formal comments on applications submitted to WDBC. The Town Council also plays a leading role in encouraging community-led projects supported by the plan.

    Q4: How is the plan used in planning decisions?
    A: Once adopted, the plan becomes part of the legal framework for determining planning applications in the area. Planning officers and committees must assess proposals against its policies alongside the Joint Local Plan and national planning policies.

    Q5: Who monitors the plan?
    A: Tavistock Town Council’s Development Management and Licensing Committee is responsible for monitoring the plan. This committee will regularly review how the policies are being applied and raise issues if aspects of the plan need to be updated

    .Q6: How and when can the plan be reviewed?
    A: The plan will be reviewed when necessary—either due to changes in national or local planning policy, development pressures, or if it’s nearing the end of its timeline (2034). A formal review process may involve consultation and a revised version of the plan.

    Q7: What happens to the Steering Group now?
    A: The original Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has handed the plan to DML at the Town Council to Monitor or Implement community projects or prepare for future reviews, in collaboration with residents.

    Q8: Can residents still be involved?
    A: Yes. Residents are encouraged to support the delivery of community actions, comment on planning applications, and help guide any future reviews. Tavistock Town Council may invite local people to take part in implementation or review work.

    You can click on the button to add your name and email address to receive updates about the plan from Tavistock Town Council, from time to time.
    Click here to sign up for  Plan updates
    Message from Ursula Mann
    Chair of Tavistock Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

    Dear Tavistock Residents,
    On behalf of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, I’d like to thank the residents of Tavistock for their support throughout the development of the Neighbourhood Plan. This has been a genuine community-led project, and it’s been a privilege for all of us involved to help guide it through to completion. Over the past four years, we’ve seen first-hand the value of listening to local voices. The plan reflects the priorities, concerns, and hopes of the people of Tavistock, and its success is thanks to the many individuals who contributed time, ideas, and energy. This has truly been a collective achievement. From community consultations and public meetings to surveys and working groups, the involvement of local people made the plan more thoughtful, representative, and rooted in what matters to Tavistock. We’re also grateful to the council officers and elected representatives who supported the process — especially Mayor Paul Ward, West Devon Leader Mandy Ewings, and County Councillor Debo Sellis for their personal engagement and encouragement. A special thanks goes to the community members of the steering group, whose commitment over nearly four years has been exceptional. It’s their perseverance, along with the backing of the wider community, that brought the plan to life. Though I wasn’t born here, Tavistock has become home — and I’m proud to have been part of a project that supports its future. The plan is now in the hands of West Devon and Tavistock Town Councils, and we thank everyone who played a part in making it a reality.

    Warm Regards,
    Ursula Mann,
    Chair,
    Tavistock Neighbourhood Development Plan
    I would like to add my thanks for all your support and encouragement.
    Stuart Honey, Secretary Steering Group, May 2025