The Northam Neighbourhood Plan 2024-2031 has been formally adopted by Torridge District Council, receiving unanimous support at a meeting of its Full Council on 21 September 2026, marking the successful end of a long journey. The neighbourhood plan will be used alongside the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan 2011-2031 to make planning decisions across the parish of Northam.
The Northam Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared by Northam Town Council, who have engaged with communities over several years to create the vision and policies laid out in the plan. The plan covers subjects such as design, locally important views, local green spaces and heritage and will have a real influence on how the area develops over the coming years.
Torridge District Council has supported Northam Town Council with the progression of the plan and has recently carried out the referendum that showed overwhelming public support for the plan from those who turned out to vote.
Further information about the Northam Neighbourhood Plan 2024-2031 can be found at https://www.torridge.gov.uk/northamnp and https://www.northamneighbourhoodplan.co.uk/
Councillor Rosemary Lock, Lead Member for Planning and Development at Torridge District Council said:
“Neighbourhood plans allow people to work together to make planning policies that reflect the needs of their area. The Northam Neighbourhood Plan 2024-2031 will be the third neighbourhood plan for Torridge to be adopted by Torridge District Council and shows that communities and councils continue to successfully work together to achieve better places. I want to say a big congratulations to all those involved in making the plan over several years, all the persons who voted in favour of this plan, and for all the help given by all members of the community and hard working Town and District Council staff. As Chair of the Plans Committee for Torridge, I am looking forward to seeing that the plan achieves the aims that people in the neighbourhood area worked and then voted for.”
