Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND

This site has had 2 applications since 2025: 1 approved, 0 refused.

• AT/2025/0334 Granted

  Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND

  Oak (T1) - Reduce the outer crown to the NW and SW by up to 1.5 m, ensuring final cuts do not exceed 50 mm diameter. The resulting crown spread will be approximately 6-7 m from stem to crown edge in each direction, in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The tree is situated near No. 18, adjacent to a bus stop and car park within a landscaped garden. Works are proposed to mitigate nuisance from bird droppings on the patio, which pose a potential health risk, while retaining the tree's amenity and structural integrity. The proposed works are necessary to mitigate nuisance and health risks arising from bird droppings on the patio, which can act as breeding grounds for parasites transmissible to humans. The tree's proximity to a bus stop and landscaped car park increases public exposure, making crown management essential for safeguarding amenity and public health. Selective reduction of the NW and SW crown will lessen overhang and shading, while retaining the tree's overall form and structural integrity in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The works will ensure that the crown maintains adequate clearance above the adjacent car park, consistent with the minimum highway clearance standard of 5.03 m. This is particularly important given the restricted manoeuvrability for larger vehicles near the bus stop, where safe passage must be maintained for public transport, service, and emergency vehicles.

  Decided 31 Dec 2025 Trees

1. 22 Jul 2026

   Received by Torbay

2. 27 Jul 2026

   Validated

   Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

3. 1 Aug 2026

   Added to PlanIndex

4. 2 Sep 2026

   Status changed to Awaiting decision

   Previously Registered.

5. Decision

   Awaiting decision

   Decision expected by 21 September 2026, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.

   Torbay took a median of 61 days over the applications it decided in the last year.

This application is with Torbay for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Torbay decided tree works applications in a median of 49 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.

Applications for works to trees cover protected trees: consent under a tree preservation order, or six weeks notice for trees in a conservation area. More in our guide to planning application types.

• Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND

  AT/2025/0334 Submitted 7 Nov 2025 9m away

  Oak (T1) - Reduce the outer crown to the NW and SW by up to 1.5 m, ensuring final cuts do not exceed 50 mm diameter. The resulting crown spread will be approximately 6-7 m from stem to crown edge in each direction, in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The tree is situated near No. 18, adjacent to a bus stop and car park within a landscaped garden. Works are proposed to mitigate nuisance from bird droppings on the patio, which pose a potential health risk, while retaining the tree's amenity and structural integrity. The proposed works are necessary to mitigate nuisance and health risks arising from bird droppings on the patio, which can act as breeding grounds for parasites transmissible to humans. The tree's proximity to a bus stop and landscaped car park increases public exposure, making crown management essential for safeguarding amenity and public health. Selective reduction of the NW and SW crown will lessen overhang and shading, while retaining the tree's overall form and structural integrity in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The works will ensure that the crown maintains adequate clearance above the adjacent car park, consistent with the minimum highway clearance standard of 5.03 m. This is particularly important given the restricted manoeuvrability for larger vehicles near the bus stop, where safe passage must be maintained for public transport, service, and emergency vehicles.

  Granted Trees

• 18 Babbacombe Road Torquay TQ1 3SJ

  P/2024/0333 Submitted 17 May 2024 48m away

  Variation of Conditions relating to application P/2021/0893 (Variation of P/2017/0178 (Conversion of Hotel into 9 apartments, demolition of later additions, creation of communal garden and terraces and shared facilities)): Amend Plans Condition (P1) to provide roof terraces to Units 7 and 9 (2nd Floor Rear); Amend Condition 7 wording to reference roof terraces to Units 7 and 9.

  Granted Amendments New dwelling Demolition 14 docs
  Several homes

• Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF

  P/2026/0100 Submitted 20 Feb 2026 107m away

  Kitchen ventilation ducting and green infrastructure roof improvements (retrospective).

  Refused Full applications

• Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF

  P/2025/0804 Submitted 11 Dec 2025 108m away

  77% historically approved · decision due ~12 Mar

  Alterations to roof profile with removal of flat roofs over villa. Re-configuration of loft space to create bedrooms, with various alterations to first floor, including improvement of room layouts and addition of balcony amenity space. Alterations to ground floor restaurant, including extension to front, with bi-fold terrace doors.

  Awaiting decision Full applications Extension Windows or glazing

• Babbacombe Guest House 53 Babbacombe Road Torquay TQ1 3SN

  P/2025/0621 Submitted 30 Sep 2025 108m away

  Change of use from Guest house to Single Dwelling.

  Granted Full applications
  Domestic

• Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF

  AT/2021/0146 Submitted 19 Apr 2021 110m away

  T1 - Beech - Mature tree touching guttering in places. Would like to prune back from building stopping any future damage to fascia and guttering. Prune tertiary branches back by 1.5m or less. Make pruning cuts of 10cm or less. Pruning sympathetically from building while keeping the aesthetical value from the rest of the road. T2 - Mulberry Morus Alba - This tree has been dying for last few years and last year has put out a lot of epicormic growth showing signs of stress and ill health. The tree is heavily leaning over the footpath and car park. If the tree was to fail it could cause injury to pedestrian. I would like to dismantle the tree to ground level and re plant in the existing border in order to keep the aesthetics of the road.

  Refused Trees 2 docs

• AT/2026/0248 Decided

  Holtye Stitchill Road Torquay TQ1 1PZ

  5 Day Notice T1 - Dead pollarded Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) Sectionally dismantle, fell and remove dead tree, leaving the cut stump at a finished height of approximately 1.0 metre abou ground level.

  15 Sep 2026 Trees
• AT/2026/0245 Awaiting decision

  Flat 1 Kingsbridge Greenway Road Torquay TQ1 4NJ

  T001 - Mature Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Observations: Mature beech with a substantial fungal fruiting body present at the base of the stem, visually consistent with Ganoderma spp. Sounding of the lower stem with a sounding mallet produced a pronounced hollow response extending from the base to approximately 2 m above ground level on the road-facing side, indicating potentially significant internal dysfunction and decay within the lower main stem. The defect is located within the tree?s primary load-bearing region, where the main stem transfers crown loading into the root system. Decay or loss of sound wood in this area is therefore considered structurally significant. The full extent of internal decay and remaining residual wall thickness could not be quantified through ground-based inspection alone. The tree supports a large mature crown and is located immediately adjacent to a public highway, with pedestrians, moving and parked vehicles, and nearby residential properties within the potential failure zone. Recommendation: Dismantle T001 to near ground level. The recommendation is based on the presence of basal fungal decay, the pronounced hollow response extending approximately 2 m up the lower stem, and the location of the defect within the principal load-bearing region of the tree. These findings materially reduce confidence in the tree's long-term structural reliability. Although the tree provides significant local amenity value within the Conservation Area, this is considered outweighed by the extent and structural significance of the identified defects and the potential consequences of whole-tree or basal failure onto the adjacent highway and surrounding targets.

  10 Sep 2026 Trees
• AT/2026/0246 Awaiting decision

  Coniston Lodge Rowdens Road Torquay TQ2 5AZ

  Tree is Holm oak, see photos. Photo shows tree and then position in red dot to house Application is to thin the tree by 25 to 30 % (crown) and prune to clear overhead utility cables by 1 m . This work is required every couple of years to keep the tree healthy and so as not to interfere with cables to house.

  10 Sep 2026 Trees
• AT/2026/0242 Granted

  Upton Manor Orchard Upton Manor Road Brixham TQ5 9RB

  5 Day Notice Removal of large dead Spruce tree Removal of dead Cherry tree See Photos

  8 Sep 2026 Trees
• AT/2026/0214 Granted

  Alta Vista Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD

  Recent emergency approved felling of two older Lime trees in next door neighbour's garden precipitated a check on our own Lime Tree sic. Precautionary Work is requested on Trunk 2 of a large mature Lime Tree in south part of our property. Sketch Plan Lime Tree position refers . The Lime tree has 4 Trunks from ground level - numbering from left to right in provided Photo Lime Tree 1 of 4 Trunk 2. Photo Lime Tree 2 of 4 shows vis discoloration separation of Trunk 2 from Trunk 3. Separation >=12cm August 2026. No previous measurement. Photo Lime Tree 3 of 4 shows southern inclination of Trunk 2 and extended southern branch growth giving increasing weight leverage/imbalance. Photo Lime Tree 4 of 4 shows extent of recent years Beefsteak fungus at base of Trunk 2 - width c 25cms August 2026. Condition of Lime Tree discussed on site with Jamie, Trees in Need who has managed bi-annually maintenance on our trees for c 20 years. Fungal infection currently appears to be on Trunk 2 base but Trunk 2 is closely twinned with Trunk 3 at this level. Trunk 3 is however largely vertical and foliage more balanced and therefore less at longer term risk. So Imminent/emergency danger of Trunk 2 failure not likely but following precautionary action suggested Requested permission for following Action for Trunk 2. Remove all top growth c 6/7 meter level as show in Photo Lime Tree 3 where extended South lateral growth is prominent to provide a largely vertical Trunk with reduced weight /leverage . Continue to monitor Trunk 2 & 3 separation and Fungal growth.

  12 Aug 2026 Trees