November 2024
Transport has a vital role in helping make Devon and Torbay the best place to grow up, live happily and healthily, and prosper.
The way we travel is changing thanks to things like online shopping and working from home. However, access to reliable transport remains essential. An affordable, sustainable, and well-connected transport system can help improve the quality of life for Devon and Torbay’s residents.
We've joined forces with Torbay Council to create a plan for future investment in our transport infrastructure that will unlock development, support active travel, be efficient and reliable and reduce congestion and pollution. This will help to achieve our goal of carbon net zero by 2050 at the latest.
We've put together a special edition of our Connect Me newsletter to share this strategy (known as the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4) with you and encourage you to share your views on it.
 What is a Local Transport Plan?
Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are statutory documents which set out a strategy for improving transport in the area in a way that fits with what the country, region, and local community want to achieve socially, economically and environmentally.
People travel within and across local authority boundaries, so this joint Local Transport Plan for Devon and Torbay reflects the reality of travel between the two areas.
In January 2024, a devolution deal for Devon and Torbay was proposed. This will create a Combined County Authority which will become responsible for producing a Devon and Torbay area-wide Local Transport Plan (LTP) and overseeing delivery of transport schemes across its geography.
How has this plan been developed?
The views of people who use the transport network are important to help shape its future.
This joint Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan has been informed by feedback we've gathered during a range of previous projects and initiatives, including the Devon Carbon Plan, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and Bus Service Improvement Plans.
Transport will facilitate sustainable growth and support reaching net zero carbon by 2050 at the latest. Well-integrated, accessible and inclusive transport will improve travel choice and benefit the health and wellbeing of everyone.
There are six objectives underpinning the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan to achieve this vision:
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Decarbonisation: Reaching net zero by 2050 at the latest by reducing the need to travel, increasing digital access and shifting trips to sustainable transport and fuels.
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Reliable and resilient: Protecting and enhancing the strategic road and rail links that connect Devon and Torbay to the rest of the country.
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Easier travel: Providing well-integrated, inclusive and reliable transport options for all residents and visitors in both rural and urban communities.
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Unlock development: Supporting clean growth by providing new transport choices within and to new developments and using technology to improve existing infrastructure.
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Greater places for people: Enhancing the attractiveness of streets by reducing negative impacts from vehicles, regenerating the public realm, and facilitating safe active travel movements.
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The place to be naturally active: Expanding the multi-use trail network, delivering quieter lanes and improving facilities and safety in urban areas to enable people to be more active and experience our outstanding natural environment.
Devon and Torbay’s population of just under a million people is spread across the city of Exeter, the urban area of Torbay, large market towns, coastal settlements and vast rural areas including two national parks and five national landscapes.
So, while our vision and objectives apply to the whole of Devon and Torbay, we also recognise the rich and diverse urban, rural and coastal geography we cover and the distinctive transport challenges they present.
These different challenges require a range of solutions, so we have included strategies for four different 'place types' which address the distinct needs in these areas. These are:
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Exeter: focuses on improving quality of life by making travel into the city from outside Exeter’s boundaries easier and using technology to encourage sustainable travel and help the city’s transport networks operate more efficiently
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Torbay: focuses on improvements to Torbay’s town centres and improving
the range of sustainable travel choices
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Growth areas (larger settlements with significant residential and employment development): focuses on maximising the opportunities for people to make short journeys sustainably through enhancing town centres, improving walking and cycling facilities, and improving the quality of public transport
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Rural Devon and market and coastal towns: focuses on improving
opportunities to travel by public transport, decarbonising vehicles, and promoting healthy travel by growing the network of safer routes for walkers, wheelers, cyclists and horse riders
We've also included strategies and action plans specifically for:
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Connecting Devon and Torbay: to enhance our strategic road, rail, air and digital connectivity so the area remains an attractive place for business and tourism.
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Asset Management (maintaining roads) and Road Safety: to make travel safe, convenient and reliable.
The Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan is a long-term strategy, accompanied by an action plan of measures. Here's a flavour of what is included:
- Expansion of Multi-use trail network, including completion of Tarka Trail and Drakes Trail and progressing Teign Estuary and Clyst Valley Trails
- Delivery of Bay Trails and Newton Abbot to Torbay Cycle route
- Continued delivery of Devon Metro rail strategy, including increased frequency from Exeter to East Devon, Barnstaple and 15-minute frequency to Digby and Sowton
- New railway stations at Cullompton, Edginswell, Monkerton and Okehampton East
- Reinstate railway from Tavistock to Plymouth
- Roll out of modern low emission buses throughout Torbay, Exeter and Barnstaple
- Completion of North Devon Link Road and A382 enhancements
- Trial reduced speed limits on strategic routes
- Energy generation on Park and Ride sites
- Work towards zero-emission transport subscription service in Exeter
You can see the full action plan in sections 10 to 15 of the full Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan document.
 Tell us what you think
We are now seeking your views on this draft strategy to ensure it addresses current priorities and the needs of communities.
Visit our Have Your Say website to view the consultation documents, which include the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan in full, a summary booklet and a short video which outlines its key proposals.
You may also like to attend our online webinar on Monday 18 November from 6pm until 7pm, where you can find out more about the strategy and speak to members of the project team. Register to attend here.
You can provide your feedback using the online questionnaire, or print a copy and return it by post to Transport Planning, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD. You can also view the consultation documents and complete a questionnaire at your local library.
If you represent a community group or are a transport stakeholder, you can provide a written statement as a response by emailing: transportplanning@devon.gov.uk
We take accessibility seriously and recognise that some of the information presented in the files on the consultation webpage may not be fully accessible to someone using assistive technology such as a screen reader. If you need guidance or an alternative format, email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk with details of any preferred format and the assistive technology you use.
The consultation closes on Saturday 30 November 2024.
The Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan is accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which is used to evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed policies and plans. You can read it on our website.
If you would like to provide feedback on the SEA, please email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk.
Once the consultation has closed, we will collate and analyse all feedback received and will consider this as we develop the final document.
A consultation report will also be created detailing all the main findings and results. We will share this with you.
It is hoped that the final Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan and associated documents will be taken back to the relevant council committees in 2025 for approval.
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