Work begins to restore full traffic flow to Paignton's Torbay Road

Torbay Road in Paignton is to return to two-way traffic following a review of temporary changes to the layout.

The decision will provide certainty for residents, businesses and road users. It will also allow final designs to be progressed for planned public realm improvements for Torbay Road and Station Square.

Work is due start on the necessary changes to reinstate the road to its original layout before the pedestrianisation trials during the evening of Monday 15 April 2024, and is expected to take around two weeks.

Contractor SWISCo will start by removing bollards and planters, and temporary signage will be replaced by permanent signs. New road lining will take place, dependant on weather conditions.

We thank residents, businesses and road users for their understanding during these works which will take place during the evenings to minimise disruption. Access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times.

The public realm improvements for Torbay Road are part of the Future High Streets Fund programme which aims to deliver enhancements at key locations in Paignton town centre.

It has been made possible after Torbay Council secured £13.36 million from the Government's Future High Streets Fund for infrastructure improvements, new homes in the town centre and an improved cultural offer.

Projects benefiting from a share of the funding are Station Square, Torbay Road, Crossways, Victoria Centre, Paignton Picture House and Paignton and Preston seafront public realm.

A trial of pedestrianisation in Torbay Road was carried out after public consultation in early 2022, following the Covid pandemic. This was amended to partial pedestrianisation in early 2023, and further changes were made to the layout and traffic flow in the summer of 2023.

After a review, the Council's leadership has now decided to opt for two-way traffic for Torbay Road, "to ensure a thriving town centre that is attractive to residents and visitors."

This decision ensures that design work can now continue with certainty to advance final designs for both the Torbay Road and Station Square schemes.

The decision to scrap any pedestrianisation plans was not without its controversy, read more about what opponents of the decision thought here. 

Torbay Road will be based on the original Future High Street Fund scheme, with no permanent full or partial pedestrianisation and reinstating the highway back to two lanes. The permanent design will deliver an enhanced street scene and public realm improvements along Torbay Road, specifically at key junctions.

The Station Square design will be finalised over the coming months to reflect the reinstatement of the revised highway layout, keeping Hyde Road at two lanes as is the current arrangement, and allowing transformative public realm enhancements to the Station area. Works for both schemes are expected to start in the autumn of 2024.

Torbay Council Leader Cllr David Thomas said: "We have listened to residents and businesses about the changes that have been trialled, and we recognise the importance of Torbay Road to the vibrancy and vitality of the town centre economy.

"We have ambitious plans to help tackle the issues high streets are facing not just here but right across the country, and are keen to get on with delivering the long-awaited improvements we want to see in Paignton.

"We hope this decision for Torbay Road to return to two-way traffic will provide certainty and reassurance that we want to find the right solution for road users, traders, our residents and visitors.

"It also means we will get on with the next steps in the programme of improvements we are working on, made possible by investment from the Government's Future High Streets Fund, to ensure a thriving future for Paignton."

Torbay Council would like to remind residents and visitors that in addition to limited on-street parking on Torbay Road, Victoria car park remains open and accessible. Victoria car park can be accessed via Esplanade Road and is behind the ongoing demolition works to the old part of the car park.