Hotel companies ‘lining up’ to be part of big Torquay project

Four-star hotel companies are lining up to play a part in the revival of Torquay harbourside.

The hotel is part of the ‘delivery’ of projects across Torbay, councillors have been told.
Now Torbay Council has given itself the authority to use compulsory purchase orders (CPO) if necessary to acquire some of the buildings it needs to get major building projects such as the harbourside under way.
CPOs can now be used if negotiations fail with the owners of various properties on Union Street and Market Street in Torquay. The council wants to acquire the buildings as part of its ambitious scheme to replace the Union Square shopping centre with a new development of more than 100 homes, plus businesses and open spaces.
It will also be able to use a CPO to obtain the buildings it needs to get started on the redevelopment of the Debenhams building and others on the harbourside. The ambition there is to create a new development featuring a new hotel.
Council deputy leader Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) said: “I think we have shown that we are delivering, and moving forward with a number of projects – probably the biggest in the history of Torbay.
“We won’t deliver them overnight. It will take time, but we are determined to deliver them.”
He revealed that hotel companies were showing a ‘keen interest’ in the harbourside and added: “We hope we won’t have to use the CPOs. It is much better to do this through negotiation, but if we have to use them, we will.”
Some opposition councillors questioned the pace of the projects.
Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) said: “There doesn’t seem to be much delivery going on.”
And Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) added: “We are woefully in the dark about how this administration is spending the bay’s money. While we support regeneration, it doesn’t mean it’s a blank cheque.
“I am concerned about the lack of transparency in these capital programmes.”