Search for
Search for
Search forAll change on the Prom
Saturday, September 13, 2008, 10:14
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 and 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.
“Projects that will benefit young people and families such as the youth activity centre and play areas proposed in Paignton are making good progress at the same time as the regeneration projects. These are the kind of things that people really want to see happening here.”
Comment on this story