Attractive Waterfront Leisure Investment

The transformation of the former Debenhams site is a key component of a larger investment by Torbay Council, supplemented by £21.9 million or funding from the government’s Towns Fund, aimed at revitalizing The Strand and harbourside areas.

The first of the Town Deal projects that has been delivered is the £4 million newly created public realm space at Torquay’s harbourside.  The Strand, which was previously dominated by public transport, now sees buses permanently relocated.  Boasting a Piazza-style promenade with the harbour ‘opened up’ with new paving, trees and benches, the new look harbourside is part of the community led redesign to encourage more people to visit and dwell in the area.

Another flagship project is the redevelopment of Union Square Shopping Centre which has £11 million of Town Deal funding allocated to it and will be complimented by further public and private sector investment.  In October 2024 the Council shared their design proposal that will be taken forward for full planning consent, anticipated to be in the first half of 2025.  The project will include demolishing the existing shopping centre while retaining the current multi-storey car park, creating new, high-quality homes, retail spaces, leisure facilities, public areas, and an NHS centre.