Massive Torquay revamp passed despite ‘Stalinist’ design jibe

A ‘game-changing’ multi-million-pound plan to revitalise Torquay town centre has been given the go-ahead despite its early design being described as ‘Stalinist’.

Dr Rodney Horder, on behalf of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum, told a meeting of Torbay Council’s planning committee some people thought the drawings were ‘reminiscent of post-war Stalinist buildings – more appropriate to 1950s Warsaw or Leningrad’.
But, he said, the forum was in favour of the principle of reshaping the area in what will be the biggest project of its kind in Torbay since the building of the Fleet Walk shopping centre in the 1980s.
Speaking in support of the proposal, Phil Jones said: “This brings significant investment into Torquay and will kick-start the regeneration of a struggling area of town.”
Torbay Council’s planning committee gave its unanimous backing to the scheme. They heard that the designers had come up with changes since the ‘Stalinist’ original drawings were seen, including different coloured bricks.
The Union Square shopping centre and parts of the town’s historic market will be knocked down, and in their place will go nearly 100 new homes along with new businesses and a public square.
The aim is to revitalise the ailing town centre.
Developers Willmott Dixon Construction want to knock down the south and west elevations of the Pannier Market and remove internal fixtures. New arched openings and doors will be built.
The committee agreed unanimously to the partial demolition of Union Square along with the demolition of nine shops fronting on to Union Street and Market Street.
Redevelopment of the site will include 99 homes, amenity and business spaces, while the existing multi-storey car park will be kept. At least 20 of the new homes will be ‘affordable’.
But some councillors had concerns over the amount of affordable homes, and said the blocks could have been built higher to accommodate more.
Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) said: “This is a real missed opportunity for a council-owned site. The council could have sent a huge message to the market that we expect more than the minimum amount of affordable housing.”
Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said he was disappointed that the development was ‘policy compliant’ when it could have been ‘policy exemplary’, while Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) added: “I would rather have a development that was taller, but I do believe it does cross the line – just – in achieving urban regeneration in Torquay town centre.”
Cllr Ras Virdee (Lib Dem, St Marychurch) said he was concerned about the future for the shops and businesses which will have to go to make way for the development.
“The effect will be that the town will decline further, and there will be less footfall,” he said. “There are certain gains, but lots of losses in a commercial and business sense.”
But committee chairman Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary) summed up: “I am extremely excited about this, and it is long overdue.
“We have had a high street that has just been deteriorating, and if we don’t do something, that just carries on. When I look at this plan – wow – it’s going to bring millions back into the town centre.”
He said the planned development of the pannier market building could make it a ‘go-to’ destination for locals and visitors.
“It could really make a dramatic change,” he said. “The bay needs this. It could be a fantastic fillip for Torquay and the whole of Torbay.”