Living Coasts Beacon Quay Torquay TQ1 2BG Data via plota.co.uk

P/2026/0502 - Planning Application Approved
Change of useCommercial premises

Proposal

Change of use of ground and first floors from marine aviary / zoo (Sui Generis use) to Use Class E (g)(ii) for research and development including offices (retrospective). Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
11 Aug 2026
✓
Validated
10 Sept 2026
✓
Consultation
17 Sept 2026
✓
Approved
9 Oct 2026

Approved on 9 Oct 2026 · Delegated · Last checked 10 Oct 2026

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 8

Kingswear to Lyme Regis across the site
Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site; the route and its margin are protected.
Torquay Harbour conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Council document ↗
In flood zones plus climate change
Inside the extent flood zones 2 and 3 could reach with climate change: the Central allowance for the 2080s on rivers, the Upper End allowance for sea level rise to 2125. From the sea. Defences are not counted.
The Environment Agency flood map for planning. Councils use it to decide when a flood risk assessment and the sequential test are needed. It is indicative and does not show whether a particular property will flood.
Flood map ↗
Special area of conservation 19 m away: Lyme Bay and Torbay
Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.
Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.
6 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: Halden Pier, Torquay Harbour, Grade II, 44 m away · 2 Grade II*, 4 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 6 with distances
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 4; SSSI 372 m away: Dyer's Quarry SSSI; Inside the Torquay built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the British Geological Survey and UK Health Security Agency (radon, contains BGS materials © UKRI) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area2,825 m² (30,408 sq ft)
Energy ratingC (asset rating 52)
UseNon-residential Institutions: Libraries, Museums, and Galleries
HeatingHeating and Mechanical Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in August 2025, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Torbay
Application type
Planning Application
Postcode
TQ1 2BG
Received
11 Aug 2026
Validated
10 Sept 2026
Ward
Tormohun
Case officer
Show
Decision
Approval
Decision date
9 Oct 2026
Decision level
Delegated
Applicant
Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 29 days from validation, 40 days faster than Torbay's median of 69 for changes of use. Approved, as 77% of changes of use here are.

43%decided within 8 weeks
77%approved
34decided in the last year

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Torbay in the last twelve months, from validation. Torbay decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

18 neighbours consulted · Last counted 10 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15125765
Planning Portal ref
PP-15125765
Comments by
8 Oct 2026
Site or press notice
17 Sept 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

11 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Installation of four windows to west elevation.
P/2025/0763
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Approved
Au Bord De La Mer Beacon Terrace 8 Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BB
Replacement of balcony.
P/2024/0854
2025 Approved
The Elephant Restaurant 3 - 4 Beacon Terrace Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
T001 & T002 holm oaks coppice as per report please see for justification and spec.
AT/2025/0129
2021 Approved
Below Decks Unit 4 Beacon Quay Torquay TQ1 2BG
Construction of free standing, demountable pergola frame, with supplementary entry platfo…
P/2021/1252
2022 Approved
Flat 1 6 Beacon Terrace 6 Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
Removal of roof from rear single storey extension and rear first floor extension. Install…
P/2022/0623
2022 Approved
Flat 1 6 Beacon Terrace 6 Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
Removal of roof from rear single storey extension and rear first floor extension. Install…
P/2022/0624
2021 Approved
Below Decks Unit 4 Beacon Quay Torquay TQ1 2BG
Installation of signage awnings to Units 3, 4 & 5 to front elevation.
P/2021/1253
2019 Approved
Harvester Beacon Quay Torquay TQ1 2RD
Installation of replacement illuminated and non-illuminated signs to exterior of building.
P/2019/1080
2018 Approved
No 7 Fish Bistro 7 Beacon Terrace Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
Replacement of collapsed balcony.
P/2018/1076
2016 Approved
Ground Floor, 8 Beacon Terrace Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
Change of use from A3 (restaurant) to A2 (financial services) to include internal alterat…
P/2016/1126
2016 Approved
Ground Floor, 8 Beacon Terrace Victoria Parade Torquay TQ1 2BH
Change of use from A3 (restaurant) to A2 (financial services) to include internal alterat…
P/2016/1125
Torbay
Planning Authority Score
1.9/10
Poor
#276 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Torbay is one of the slowest councils in England for householder decisions, ranking #276 out of 296. 54% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 41% national average. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (90%) than the national average (90%).

Among the slowest councils in England
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Torbay decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
87%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #183 of 296
90%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #197 of 296
37%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #276 of 296
54%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #247 of 296
81%
Minor dwellings approved
53 decided (1-9 homes)
100%
Major dwellings approved
9 decided (10+ homes)
91%
Change of use approved
44 decided
529
Total decisions
68 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.