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Torbay (Local Environment Profile 2011)

KEY FACTS

> Torbay produced 665 kt of end user CO2 in 2008, the fifteenth lowest for a local authority in the South West. Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions reduced by 7%.

> Torbay produced the twelfth lowest amount of road transport CO2 emissions for a local authority in the South west and the 10th lowest for land use, land use change and forestry (3 kt).

> Torbay residents were responsible for a total of 5.0 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, lower than the average for Devon and the South West. This was the second lowest in the region.

> Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced by almost 8% in Torbay.

> 649 million vehicle kilometres were made in the Torbay unitary authority area in 2009. This was the second lowest recorded by a unitary or county council (behind the Isles of Scilly), accounting for 1.3% of the total for the region as a whole.

> Between 1993 and 2009, the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled within the Torbay area increased by 17%. This was lower than the percentage increase within the South West over the same period.

> There are 4 river water bodies within Torbay. Our latest assessment of these classified 100% as moderate.

> Torbay is the eighth smallest local authority area in the South West, just 2% of the area of the South West. The largest proportion of land in Torbay is classified as green space, accounting for 34,681 m2 or 55% of its total area.

> Torbay has a higher proportion of its land area covered by domestic buildings, with 6% (4,044 m2) compared to the county and regional average of 1%. There is also a significantly higher proportion of land covered by domestic gardens in the local authority area, with 22%.

> Around 8% of Torbay is covered by the road network, which is higher than the county and regional average of 2%.

> Torbay Council produced 601kg/household of residual waste which was the second highest to be produced in Devon

> Torbay Council in 2009/10 against the other South West Councils, was in the bottom half of the recycling league table with 35.7%.

> Torbay landfilled 33,785 tonnes, which was the third lowest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However this equated to the third highest percentage landfilled in the South West (61.5%).

> The population of Torbay was estimated to be 134,300 in June 2010, almost 2.5% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.

> The number of households in Torbay in 2033 is predicted to be 24.6% (some 15,000 households) higher than in 2008, below the 30% increase predicted for the region as a whole.

> Larger population centres within Torbay where there is risk of flooding include Paignton.

> There is a Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) for the Teign, Torbay and South Hams. It sets out how the Environment Agency will manage water abstraction until 2013 for the Avon, Dart and Erme and 2014 for the Teign and Torbay catchments.

> Torbay citizens had an average eco-footprint of 4.44 gha. This was the third lowest in both Devon and the South West Region

> Torbay Council had an allocation of 38,224 tonnes and only landfilled 29,355 tonnes (76.8%) of their Biodegradable Municipal Waste. This was the second lowest reported in the South West.

Devon County (showing districts, plus Plymouth and Torbay)

Act to reduce climate change and its consequences

CLIMATE CHANGE

The Torbay Climate Change Strategy predicts that the average annual temperature will be up to 4°C higher by 2080 than it was in 1990. This will lead to a 50% reduction in summer rainfall and a 20% increase in winter rainfall as well as an increase in sea level of up to 90 centimetres. Changes to our climate on this scale will have wide ranging impacts upon agricultural practices, water resources, coastal defences, transport, public health, wildlife, landscape, and the make-up of Torbay’s economy.

Source: Torbay Council

CARBON DIOXIDE - END USER

Torbay produced 665 kt of end user CO2 in 2008, the fifteenth lowest for a local authority in the South West.
Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions reduced by 7%, from 719 kt to 665 kt.
The highest proportion of end user emissions in Torbay in 2008 came from domestic sources, accounting for 44% (292 kt), followed by industry and commerce with 33% (219 kt). Torbay produced the twelfth lowest amount of road transport CO2 emissions for a local authority in the South west and the tenth lowest for land use, land use change and forestry (3 kt).

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CO2 Levels 2005-08: Torbay

Torbay residents were responsible for a total of 5.0 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, 39% lower than the 8.2 tonnes average for Devon and 36% lower than the South West 7.8 tonnes per capita. This was the second lowest in the region, behind Weymouth and Portland with 4.7t.
Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced by almost 8% in Torbay, from 5.4t to 5.0t.

Please note - we are reporting on end user CO2 emissions, which are used as the National Indictor for Sustainable Development for the UK. An alternative measure of CO2 is available from the Stockholm Institute. As the data presented is from 2008, the local authority comparisons for the South West include district authorities in Cornwall and Wiltshire which have now been replaced by Unitary Authorities.

Source: Sub-national energy consumption statistics, DECC

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

There were 63,400 domestic electricity meter points in Torbay in 2009, just under 3% of the regional total of almost 2.4 million.
An average of 4,026kWh of electricity was used per consumer in Torbay during 2009, 9% (422kWh) lower than the regional average of 4,448kWh and 3% (126kWh) lower than the Great Britain average of 4,152kWh.

Source: AEA for DECC

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Energy Consumption 2005-09: Torbay

TRANSPORT

649 million vehicle kilometres were made in the Torbay unitary authority area in 2009. This was the second lowest recorded by a unitary or county council (behind the Isles of Scilly with 2 million km), accounting for 1.3% of the 48,588 million km total for the region as a whole.
Between 1993 and 2009, the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled within the Torbay area increased by 17% (98 million km). This was lower than the percentage increase within the South West (26%), over the same period.

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A graph showing estimated traffic volume in Torbay 1993-2009

Source: Department of Transport

COMMUTING

56% of all people aged between 16 and 74 travelled to work by private car in Torbay during 2006. This was slightly lower than the regional average of 59% but just higher than the national average of 55%.
17% of all people travelled to work by foot or bicycle in Torbay, slightly higher than the 15% regional average and national average of 13%. However, this still accounts for a very small percentage in comparison to driving.

Source: Office of National Statistics

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A graph comparing the methods used in Torbay with those in the South West

Protect and improve air, land and water quality

AIR QUALITY

There are two Local Air Quality Management Areas declared in Torbay, encompassing Hele Road and Brixham. Both of these have been declared due to nitrogen dioxide.
For more information on these - click here.

Source: DEFRA

WATER QUALITY

There are 4 river water bodies within Torbay. Our latest assessment of these classified 100% as moderate.
The main reasons for less than good status include: impacted fish communities, low pH, impacted diatom communities and high levels of copper and phosphate.

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A map showing Water Framework Directive (WFD) water bodies from Devon

For information on the activities taking place to help your local river improve, please see the Earth Chattering pages for an interactive map and much more information.

Please note - Water bodies do not fit exactly within local authority boundaries. The figures have been derived from those water bodies whose centres are within the district in question. If all water bodies within a district had been included, double accounting would have taken place. Some water bodies have yet to be classified. For the purpose of this exercise, these have been removed from the figures published.

Source: Environment Agency

LAND USE

Torbay is the eighth smallest local authority area in the South West, with almost 119,455 m2 within its realm, 2% of the 24,477,128 m2 total area of the South West. The largest proportion of land in Torbay is classified as green space, accounting for 34,681 m2 or 55% of its total area. This is lower than the county average of 92% and regional average of 91%.
Torbay has a higher proportion of its land area covered by domestic buildings, with 6% (4,044 m2) compared to the county and regional average of 1%. There is also a significantly higher proportion of land covered by domestic gardens in the local authority area, with 22% (13,945 m2), in comparison to both the county average (2%) and regional average (3%).
Around 8% of Torbay is covered by the road network, which is again higher than the county and regional average of 2%.

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A graph showing the major landuses in Torbay

Source : Communities and Local Government

QUALITY OF LIFE

The ninth Local Environmental Quality Survey conducted by Keep Britain Tidy, was carried out between April 2009 and March 2010. The Summary Report key messages included :

~ Overall Standards within England remain the same as last year, with no change in the Cleansing Index score, which is 76, out of a possible 100.

~ 63% of standards for all LEQ indicators were either Good or Satisfactory.

~ The South East joins the South West as top performing region overall, for the first time this year.

~ The South West has been either the top performing region or joint top performing region since the 2007/08 Survey.

The survey carried out between April 2006 -March 2007, is available down to Local Authority Level, please click here for the details.

Source: Keep Britain Tidy

NITRATE VULNERABLE ZONES

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas of land that drain into waters polluted by nitrates, such that the ecosystem is at risk of being disturbed, or the water is likely to exceed 50 milligrams of nitrate in each litre.
Within Torbay, there are no areas designated NVZ or of deferred slurry storage.
NVZ regulations come fully into force on 1 Jan 2012, except in deferred Slurry storage areas which have until 1 Jan 2013.
For more information on NVZ, please see Environment Agency pages.
For detailed maps relating to NVZ areas, please see source pages.

Source : Environment Agency

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Torbay Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)

CATCHMENT SENSITIVE FARMING

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) gives advice on dealing with diffuse pollution from agriculture and the impact on water courses.
CSF is a voluntary initiative, where as NVZs is a statutory obligation. CSF looks at : best practice on manure and pesticide usage; Promoting good soil structure; protecting watercourses from run-off and best practice on stock management.
The map below shows the Catchment Sensitive Farming project which overlaps into the Torbay area. It is the Slapton Ley and Salcombe to Kingsbridge catchments and covers an area of 158 km2. It is also the smallest project area being covered in the South West.

Source: Environment Agency

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A map showing Catchment Sensitive Farming in the South Hams area

SOIL

The shows the soil types in the Torbay area.
Torbay is dominated by medium textured soils with areas of shallow chalk and limestone soils in the north and south margins of the Torbay ‘horseshoe’. Many of these soils have been overbuilt as the Torbay developed.
Soil type is a major factor in determining the type of agriculture that can be supported. Generally medium textured soils support mixed farming with arable on the shallow chalk and limestone soils.
The 2007 DEFRA agricultural census data available for Torbay reveals some grazing activity but as most of the data is commercially suppressed further conclusions are not possible.
The latest (2010) DEFRA agricultural census data for Plymouth & Torbay & Devon County Council indicates almost 486 000ha of farmed land supports over 8100 farms of which 1476 are greater than 100ha in size. 5% of this farmed area is wheat - the dominant arable crop. 63% of the farmed land is permanent grass supporting almost 236,000 dairy cattle, about 31% of the total dairy herd in the South West .

Source: DEFRA

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A map showing the soil types in Torbay

POLLUTION INCIDENTS

For the period April 2005-March 2010, there were no incidents of major impact on land, air or water. For the same period, there was 1 incident of significant impact to land, and a further 7 incidents of significant impact to water.
For the period April 2010- March 2011 inclusive, there were no incidents of major or significant impact to land, air or water in Torbay.

Source: Environment Agency

FLYTIPPING

During 2009/10 there were 1230 reported incidents of flytipping in Torbay, the tenth highest for a district or unitary authority in the region. This was a 15% fall from the 1451 incidents in 2008/09.

Source: DEFRA

Please note: incidents of fly tipping are reported differently by each council. One may log black bin bags out on an incorrect day as a fly tipping incident where another council do not log this. Please be aware of these reporting discrepancies on Flycapture when looking at the data in comparison to other councils.

MUNICIPAL WASTE

Torbay Council was not in the top ten highest producers of residual waste produced however were in the top half of the league table in the South West, with 601.16 kg/household. This was the second highest to be produced in Devon.

In 2009/10, South Hams had the lowest level of residual waste in the South West with 341.04kg/household. The highest in the South West was Isles of Scilly Council with 1,452kg/household.

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Recycling in the South West (2009/10)

Recycling and composting has increased significantly in the South West, from 14.9% in 2000 / 2001 to 43.5% in 2009 / 2010.
Torbay Council in 2009/10 against the other South West Councils, was in the bottom half of the recycling league table with 35.7%.
The highest rate of recycling in the SW was Cotswold District Council with 60.4%, and the lowest rate in the SW was Isles of Scilly with 18.9%.

Source: DEFRA

TOTAL MUNICIPAL WASTE LANDFILLED

Torbay landfilled 33,785 tonnes, which was the third lowest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However this equated to the third highest percentage landfilled in the South West (61.5%).

Bournemouth Borough Council landfilled the least percentage waste in 2009/10 (37.8%). Plymouth City Council landfilled the largest percentage of waste in 2009/10 (64%). Devon County Council however landfilled the largest amount in tonnes with 194,720 tonnes.

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A graph showing Torbay Waste disposal

Source: Environment Agency

Put people and communities at the heart of what we do

POPULATION

The population of Torbay was estimated to be 134,300 in June 2010, almost 2.5% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.
Of this population, 16.5% were aged under 15, 59.7% were of working age (16 – 64), and 23.8% were of pensionable age (65+).
A larger percentage of Torbay’s population is of retirement age (23.8%) when compared with the regional (19.6%) and England (16.5%) values. The proportion was similar to the Devon county value of 22.4%.

Source : Office of National Statistics

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Population Growth in the South West: 2008-2033

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

The number of households in Torbay in 2033 is predicted to be 24.6% (some 15,000 households) higher than in 2008, below the 30% increase predicted for the region as a whole.

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Household Estimate and Projections 1991-2033: Torbay

Please note - Figures to 2008 are based on ONS mid-year population estimates and projected rates of household formation from trends in Census and Labour Force Survey data. All projections are 2008-based. The 2008-based household projections are linked to the Office for National Statistics 2008-based Population Projections, and are not an assessment of housing need or do not take account of future policies. They are an indication of the likely increase in households given the continuation of recent demographic trends.

Source: Communities and Local Government

NEW HOMES ON PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED LAND

The proportion of new buildings built in England on previously developed land, rose 23% between 1994-2009. More than half of local authorities in the South West has an increase higher than the English average.

Over the same period, South Gloucestershire had the highest overall increase with 57%, and the lowest was Isles of Scilly with -10%. The second lowest local authority was jointly Cotswold and Torbay with only a 5% increase over the same period.
For the period 2006-2009, only 4 councils achieved over 90% of new dwellings on previously developed land in the South West. These were Bournemouth (97), Poole (97%), City of Bristol (95%) and Christchurch (94%).

Source: Communities and Local Government

FLOODING

One in six properties in England are at risk of flooding. In the South West over 200,000 properties are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea and around 6,000 properties are at risk from coastal erosion in the South West.
The causes of flooding in Devon are varied; rivers, tidal, surface water or combinations of the three, depending on location.
Larger population centres within Torbay where there is risk of flooding include Paignton.
To see locations at risk of flooding in Devon or Torbay, please click here for the Environment Agency flood map.

Source: Environment Agency

PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND FLOOD RISK

The Environment Agency lodged objections to 6,200 planning applications in England and Wales on the grounds of flood risk in 2007/2008 up from 4,750 in 2006/2007. Of these, 1,160 objections were in the South West, accounting for almost 19% of the national total.
Two major and twenty one minor developments were approved by local authorities contrary to advice in the South West. The two major were in Carrick (application for mixed use) and Weymouth & Portland (residential).
There were no major or minor developments approved contrary to advice in Torbay.
In 2008/09, a summary report was published which had no detailed information to local authority level.
The number of planning applications to which we objected on flood risk grounds fell slightly to 5,198 in 2008/09 compared to 6,232 in 2007/08, representing 43% of consultations received. This is the first fall in the proportion of consultations objected to since 2001/02.

Source: Environment Agency

Work with businesses and the public sector to use resources wisely

WATER RESOURCES

There is a Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) for the Teign, Torbay and South Hams. It sets out how the Environment Agency will manage water abstraction until 2013 for the Avon, Dart and Erme and 2014 for the Teign and Torbay catchments.
There are two Water Resources Management Units immediately abutting Torbay Unitary area: the Erme and the Aller
Click here to view the full documents on this CAMS.

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Catchment Area Management Strategy (CAMS) for Devon

Source: Environment Agency

ECO FOOTPRINT

The ecological footprint is an indicator of the total environmental burden we place on the planet. It represents the area of land needed to provide raw materials, energy and food, and to absorb pollution and waste created. It is measured in global hectares (a hectare of land with world average productivity) and is usually expressed as a per person measure. The Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) calculates the ecological footprint of consumption activities.
One of the main features of an ecological footprint indicator is that it is based on consumption, not just domestic production. It takes into account the impact of all products that are consumed, whether they are produced in the country of consumption, or elsewhere in the world.

In 2006, an average UK citizen had an eco-footprint of 4.64gha, which is significantly above the available budget of 1.89 gha. The South West Regional average was 4.74 gha.
Torbay citizens had an average eco-footprint of 4.44 gha. This was the third lowest in both Devon and the South West Region.
The ecological footprint of all local authorities in the UK is significantly above the available global budget. If everyone in the world consumed the same as a UK citizen we would need nearly three planets worth of resources.

Source : Resource Accounting

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A graph showing the Torbay Eco Footprint (2006) by themes

LANDFILL ALLOWANCE TRADING SCHEME

In 2009/10 the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) landfilled by the 16 local authorities within the South West was 1,032,967 tonnes against their combined allocation of 1,134,910 tonnes.
Torbay Council had an allocation of 38,224 tonnes and only landfilled 29,355 tonnes (76.8%) of their BMW. This was the second lowest reported in the South West.
Only two councils in the South West exceeded their allocations. They were Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Source: Environment Agency

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Amount landfilled in 09/10 within the South West

Downloads

Please use these images in presentations/reports, but remember to reference the South West Observatory Environment Module Local Profiles 2011.

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