Backing for £20million Torbay ‘fish and chips’ projects

'Sends a clear signal that Torbay is open for innovation'

Investing more than £20million in two huge Torbay regeneration projects will help the bay provide ‘high value’ jobs for its young people, councillors have heard.

Members of Torbay council’s cabinet have given their unanimous backing to the next stage of the bay’s so-called ‘fish and chips’ strategy to invest government money in Brixham’s flourishing fishing port and Paignton’s world-renowned high-tech sector.

The cabinet rubber-stamped timescales and budgets for the Brixham Port Infrastructure Project (PIP) and the Torbay Technology Park.

Members heard that the value of catches being landed at Brixham had more than doubled since 2020, while photonics businesses in Paignton had outgrown space at the dedicated EPIC Centre on the ring road and were looking for new premises.

“Our fishing industry puts Torbay on the map,” said Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston). “And in the high-tech sector we are desperate to have high-value jobs for the youngsters who are at school now.”

Five new units are planned at the fish market, creating 40 new jobs, with planning consent being sought in October this year. Building could begin in January with the first businesses operating by the beginning of 2028.

Six local companies have already confirmed their interest in moving into the new units.

The project is being funded with £9.8million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, plus £4.2million borrowed from the Public Works Loan Board.

In Paignton, the council plans to spend around £6.5million buying a unit at the Westfield Business Park off Long Road.

“These are two projects that represent a confident, forward-looking vision for Torbay’s economy,” said Cllr Lewis. “It is about more than just capital investment, it is about unlocking the potential of our people, our businesses and our place.

“It sends a clear signal that Torbay is open for innovation, enterprise and opportunity.”

And Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) added: “It is absolutely essential that we invest in our fishing industry and high-tech sector. These are the right things for the bay, the right things for Brixham and Paignton and the wider economy of Torbay.”

Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said it had taken years of hard work to reach this stage.

“Isn’t it fantastic when a plan comes together?” he said. “We first spoke about fish and chips so many years ago, and now it is absolutely marvellous to see them coming together.”