Harbourside revamp divides Torquay

Plans ignite fiery debate

Bold new plans to transform Torquay’s tired harbourside have sparked a heated debate online.

The plans, complete with spectacular ‘artist’s impression’ illustrations, have been published by Torbay Council and its development partners Willmott Dixon and Milligan.

The aim is to gauge public opinion on the plans to redevelop the northern side of The Strand with a multi-million-pound development including a 154-bedroom boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace.

Food, drink and retail outlets also feature in the design, along with a new link between the harbourside and The Terrace.

Designers say they were inspired by the Victorian heritage of the area.

The council’s deputy leader Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) said the proposals would ‘re-establish Torbay as a world-class destination’, and he urged local people to make their voices heard during the consultation.

Early reactions on social media were encouraging. One post said ‘Absolutely stunning! Just what this part of Torquay deserves’ while another said ‘ Build it and they will come!’ and another responded ‘Looks amazing’.

“It looks lovely, just what Torquay needs. Updated and modernised,” wrote another.

However, some other responses queried why the council was keen to have a new hotel as part of the development, when there were already two new hotels within a stone’s throw and a development on the site of the former Palace Hotel at Babbacombe had been shelved because experts say Torquay already had plenty of hotel beds.

“Do we need another hotel?” asked one post. “Couldn’t it be used as housing instead?”

Other people questioned the fate of the Victorian buildings which currently line the harbourside, and some called for money to be spent on more run-down areas of the town first.

The council and its partners are already working on a project to knock down the Union Square shopping centre and replace it with a new development of homes and businesses.

A full planning application for the harbourside development is expected to be filed in the autumn.

People can also view the proposals, images and more information before filling out the consultation questionnaire here.