Praise for volunteers who gave Oldway Mansion vital lifeline ahead of new regeneration initiative

Tributes have been paid to the tireless volunteers who have kept Paignton’s Oldway Mansion ticking over since Torbay Council left a decade ago.
Parts of the mansion and its grounds have been maintained by a number of voluntary groups in the years since the council shut its register office and other departments in the Victorian property.
Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) told a cabinet committee: “If we hadn’t had these people, the mansion and grounds would look in a sorry state by now.”
And Cllr Cat Johns (Lib Dem, Clifton with Maidenway) added: “Thank God the volunteers have been involved since 2013.”
Damage from leaks, dry rot and general wear and tear have left it needing millions of pounds in repairs, with £1 million is to be spent straight away to make it windproof and watertight for the coming winter.
Last month Oldway was added to Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register. The cabinet voted unanimously to accept a new ‘masterplan’ which sets out the phases of a decade-long £54 million full restoration.
Council officers will now go out and find commercial partners to help revive the historic building, and that is likely to include luxury apartments on the top floors to help fund the massive cost.
Key features of the plan include restoring the mansion, outbuildings and grounds; improving access to the gardens; re-opening the register office and creating a new space for events and gatherings.
Potential developers have already contacted the council to find out what it plans to do with Oldway, and now there will be a formal call for interested parties.
Cllr Lewis continued: “The masterplan has taken over a year to develop, and it makes good reading. The future of Oldway is not a quick fix, but what we have to do is to make a start. We need to start by finding a partner, because we can’t do it alone. We need to find up to £54 million, and it isn’t going to be easy.”
Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) said the council should manage expectations. “It is going to be a lengthy project,” he said. “It is a massive challenge.”
Possible sources of funding for the project include the National Lottery Heritage fund, which has already chipped in, the Arts Council and the government’s levelling-up funds.
“We mean business, and this time we will find a solution,” said Cllr Lewis. “The time for talking and reports is now over.”