A FINAL list has been produced of the top five projects which are now being pushed ahead as Torbay’s Mayoral Vision ploughs ahead.

The Mayoral Vision started with 300 ideas. They were whittled down to the 19 that made it into the vision document.

And those have now been categorised into short, medium and long term projects.

Two of the four schemes in Brixham are already under way at the fish market and in the town centre. Freshwater and Oxen cove projects will follow.

New to the short term list are: Oldway Mansion, and Riviera International Centre.

Neither were on the original portfolio.

Next on the list are: The remodelling of Torquay town hall with a substantial retail redevelopment behind it.

Goodrington and Clennon Valley;

Paignton town centre including the Victoria Centre, Station Lane, and possibly Crossways and finally Torquay harbourside.

Torquay seafront

And also being lined up is Brunswick Square in Torre, where developers have come forward who are interested in getting a project moving quickly.

The developer is a local company wishing to expand in Torre. The company is considering relocating out of the Bay if suitable office accommodation can’t be found.

The company wants to produce a feasibility study for an office development above the existing car park.

Steve Parrock, the new chief executive of Torbay Development Agency, said: “If they come back with a scheme which we think is viable we will work with the company and immediately move the project into the priority list.”

He said architect’s sketches in the Mayoral Vision had given the impression of high rise developments throughout, but the illustrations were ‘purely speculative’ and were very unlikely to be approved to the height of some of the developments shown.

“I can confirm however that we have already declined a 30-storey residential tower adjacent to Torquay harbourside. However there are some sites on the harbourside, for example in Victoria Parade, which are capable of going a bit higher without significantly impacting upon the environment and on people’s views, but the planning department would of course expect a very high quality architecture, ” said Mr Parrock.

The top five short-listed projects currently being worked on are:

JOINT FIRST, OLDWAY MANSION

Following the public consultation this summer, the council has asked the two preferred bidders for further information on their outline proposals for restoration, hotel, homes and leisure proposals.

In particular they have asked Swan Country Homes and Urban Splash for more details of their business plans.

Mr Parrock said: “Neither bid is likely to change significantly but the bidders have now had time to consider improvements following the public consultation.”

He said part of the public feedback concerned the bowling facilities and the extent of the tennis courts to be retained: “I understand both bidders are still planning to retain most of the tennis courts and it is a requirement that the two bowls clubs are fully catered for,” he said.

Mr Parrock said they had also asked the bidders whether their original construction programme be re-phased.

“It might be necessary to consider starting the hotel and restoration first and the new housing afterwards when the economy has improved.”

JOINT FIRST : RIVIERA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE: The council has received some 40 expressions of interest from developers interested in providing a new hotel/conference centre.

There has been speculation that one of the ‘very strong’ expressions of interest is the Hilton Hotel group.

The council has had several ‘very strong’ expressions of interest when it carried out some ‘soft’ marketing six months ago which included two branded hotels.

Mr Parrock said: “Since we started the formal bid process we have had over 40 expressions of interest, mostly from developers representing major hotel chains who want more information.

“Later this year we will shortlist potential partners and whittle that down to two to three bidders”.

2, CLENNON VALLEY AND GOODRINGTON

This project covers land from the water park and car park, the Whitbread Inn on the Quay, across to land behind Clennon Valley sports centre and up the valley to Paignton Zoo.

Mr Parrock said: “We have received several tentative expressions of interest to redevelop at Goodrington and more recently Clennon Valley behind. The interest relates to mixed use development including a hotel, tourist related water park, holiday accommodation, new leisure facilities and eco housing, retaining and enhancing the existing leisure facilities.

“One consortium has put forward a proposal which extends from the zoo to the Goodrington foreshore.”

He said the details were commercially sensitive at the current time.

3, CASTLE CIRCUS CIVIC HUB

Architects have now been commissioned to take the design to the planning stage, before the end of this year, with the aim of getting permission by the end of March.

The £23million scheme aims to house the council’s offices under one roof to save money, while breathing new life into the listed town hall itself, without changing its external appearance.

The council is considering options for a ‘quality’ supermarket and residential development on the Lymington Road car park.

Mr Parrock said four reputable developers had expressed interest: “Our agents have spoken to the major supermarket chains and have further meetings scheduled.

“What we do need to create in Torquay is a unique selling point so people would rather come here than go farther away.

“We hope the redevelopment of Castle Circus will act as stimulus to further development in upper Union Street.”

The supermarket would have some allocated residential development, most likely retirement apartments above.

The council is also looking at evaluating options to use a third of the Assembly Rooms as a new civic chamber when Oldway Mansion becomes a hotel.

Some of the savings from the office rationalisation might go towards a multi-purpose sports hall elsewhere. The council is investigating the future of swimming in Torquay if the Riviera Centre hotel development goes ahead. The council has already said it wishes to support Plainmoor Pool, where facilities need modernising.

A feasibility study for a Lottery-funded gym and a swimming pool at Plainmoor is being commissioned, possibly linked to nearby Westlands School. Children’s Services would fund the gym.

4, PAIGNTON TOWN CENTRE, this includes privately owned Crossways Shopping Centre, council owned Victoria centre and car park, Station Lane car parks and possibly other sites.

Developers have suggested a mixed use retail/leisure centre for the Victoria Centre site which could include ten pin bowling, an all weather leisure and tourist attraction for use by people coming off the beach, and possibly a cinema or film school as well as new shops. The site also offers a great location for higher level residential with views over the seafront Victoria park. One developer has proposed a hotel. New car parks would replace the existing delapidated ones.

It is also hoped to do more with the Station Lane site, where the new community library perhaps relocating the Stagecoach depot to create an integrated transport interchange next to the railway tracks.

At the same time the council is looking to create a top quality play facility somewhere in the town and youth facilities, possibly at Parkfield House and Paignton Green.

Mr Parrock said: “The council recognises the centre of Paignton is incredibly important to the Bay’s economy and is therefore prioritising the redevelopment of certain sites in Paignton.

“It is understood that the redevelopment of Crossways is on the cards but this in private hands and I can’t discuss confidential negotiations.

“The plans for the library and community hub project at Station Lane is going ahead with lottery funding and we are now focusing on the co-ordinated and the procurement of other regeneration projects within of the town centre possibly using the different sites to phase the works, for example where it is necessary to relocate existing businesses.”

DEVELOPERS are lining up to breathe new life into Torquay’s ailing seafront.

The credit crunch is showing no signs of hitting Mayor Nick Bye’s plans to transform the English Riviera.

It has been revealed that 19 developers are now drawing up plans to change the face of prime sites in and around Torquay waterfront and landmark locations in Paignton.

The new chief executive of the Torbay Development Agency Steve Parrock said: “The Royal Terrace Gardens and the Pavilion are of course Grade 2* listed and much loved assets. Any development is likely to stir some emotions and many will say that we shouldn’t change it. The reality is if we don’t change it, it will naturally change anyway and for the worse. The area is subsiding and it is falling into disrepair.

“With the exception of Beacon Quay, Torquay’s harbourside has declined and that will continue unless we invest in its future.”

Developers are particularly interested in the gardens and prom between the Pavilion and Princess theatres.

The revolutionary plans for Torquay harbourside include:

A new bigger Princess Theatre to take London shows;

Underground car parking below the theatre;

Cafes and restaurants on Rock Walk to make it a tourist attraction;

Torbay’s new casino;

New restaurants on Victoria Parade;

Several hotel chains want to build with good views over the harbour;

Holiday accommodation on The Terrace car park;

And new office accommodation over the car park in Brunswick Square.

Torquay harbourside is one of five Mayoral Projects now being pushed forward.

Other new projects being pushed forward include Paignton town centre, Goodrington and Clennon Valley, Oldway Mansion, the Riviera International Centre.

Developers are lining up to produce architects’ visions for hotel, retail and restaurant use on land between the Pavilion and Princess Theatre, Victoria Parade and The Terrace in particular.

But the council says it has turned down moves to build one 30-storey high rise next to Torquay harbour.

Mr Parrock said: “One of the proposals is to significantly develop the theatre, double its backstage capacity and providing an outdoor events/ theatre space with restaurants.

“Their business proposition is that they will be able to have London shows as Plymouth does.”

This could prove one of the most complex and contentious of the Mayoral Projects, Mr Parrock said, because of its sensitive location and because much of the land is reclaimed from the sea.

The council will need to commission a conservation plan for the area, as it did for Oldway Mansion.

Mr Parrock said: “Several developers who have expressed an interest in the harbourside are also interested in Rock Walk. We might even see one or two cafes and terraces placed there.

“But the Rock Walk urgent repairs will have to go ahead first.”

The area between the Pavilion and the theatre has already been highlighted as one potential area for a casino.

Mr Parrock said: “I think it is fairly well understood that the mayor and cabinet would like to see a casino close to Torquay seafront. The casino will contribute to the repair and on-going maintenance of the seafront infrastructure. The casino is likely to be part of a mixed development, in a retail and hotel combination.”

A number of operators are also interested in The Terrace car park: “We need car parking, but the Terrace car park has fantastic views over the Bay and it could have a whole variety of alternative uses.

“Some of the council-owned Terrace car park could be housing or holiday accommodation or serviced holiday/retirement apartments for retired people with shared facilities such as dining.

“Several developers who have hotel chains as clients have confirmed that their clients are looking for prestigious locations.

“They need good quality late night shops and restaurants in close proximity, together with good views over the Bay or harbourside.”

He said there was also the opportunity to improve the layout in Victoria Parade for outdoor dining.

“Several investors have said that they would like to develop parts of the whole harbour area, because they see the value of creating a prestigious harbour front ambience. They don’t want to develop one prestigious site which is then let down by the delapidated pound shop nearby or chaotic parking. One asset management company which has approached the council is quite capable of delivering a wholesale redevelopment, but this is not what they are proposing, they would prefer to target strategic sites for new build and renewal and repair of existing property surrounding the harbourside. They want to lift the whole harbourside area in partnership with the council. That is something which is long overdue.”

Mayor Nick Bye said: “It’s all very exciting.

“There are professional, serious developers out there with deep pockets who are looking to the long term and see the current downturn as an opportunity.

“There are few places offering more opportunity than Torbay because so little has happened here in recent years.

“It is an ambitious programme but I have every confidence in Steve Parrock and his team.”

Mr Bye said: “Some developments are likely to happen more quickly especially as the Government Office South West and the Regional Development Agency were involved in developing the vision.”