Jim Parker: Plans will reshape Torquay's future

Torquay town centre’s life support machine is slowly but surely running out of power, but is this the answer to a long-awaited new future before the plug is finally pulled?

The wraps have come off multimillion-pound plans to totally transform the top of the town.

They come from Willmott Dixon and Milligan, the development partners from the private sector who have been tasked by Torbay Council to redevelop key sites in the Bay that are ripe for regeneration and absolutely crucial to that new future.

The private sector partners have put £100million in the funding pot to add to the Town Hall’s £110 million from various slices of the Torquay Town Deal, Future High Streets funding, and Levelling Up cash.

The first part of the facelift jigsaw for the Strand and the Torquay harbourside should be in place by the end of this week with the Debenhams demolition and redevelopment to come in the New Year.

Now all sights have been set on Union Square, halfway down Union Street, another of those chosen sites, and proposals made public in detail for the first time.

Already, battle lines are being drawn, especially over the amount of social housing and affordable homes planned in the scheme.

Residents and businesses in the Bay are being given the chance to have their say on the new proposals as public consultation begins before a planning application is due to be submitted in March.

The overall future blueprint for Torquay town centre has always focused on reducing the number of retail outlets at the top end of the town and introducing homes and more leisure facilities to bring footfall and life back into the ailing High Street. 

Shop owners would be encouraged to move the GPO and Fleet Street end of the town. It's hoped that any new influx of people would also help solve the issues that currently make Castle Circus a no-go area—although that may be a separate conversation altogether.

The Union Square scheme fits into that overall vision. It includes demolishing the existing shopping centre while retaining the current multi-storey car park. It would comprise 'the creation of new, high-quality homes, retail spaces, leisure facilities, public areas, and an NHS centre'.

Torbay Council says: "This redevelopment promises significant economic and social benefits for Torquay and the surrounding area, including a revitalised town centre with an improved public realm. As part of the project, the Grade II listed Pannier Market would be restored as a freestanding building and undergo a major refurbishment. A new pocket park is also planned for the corner of Union Street and Market Street.”

The council adds: "The design captures the needs and aspirations of local stakeholders by creating a town centre hub that is fit for the future, provides much-needed affordable housing for sale and rent, and diversifies the local economy."

The project will also include 100 new homes, new public realm space, and a reduced number of empty shops.

"In anticipation of the project coming forward, we have already started to acquire properties in the area," says the council.

It adds: "In recent years the retail position of town centres has changed considerably. We are therefore focusing on reshaping and introducing more diverse uses into the town centre to ensure it is thriving and fit for the future. By introducing more non-retail uses into the town centre, we can look at opportunities to provide much-needed affordable housing for sale and rent, create a better-quality high-street experience that attracts investors and users to the area, and celebrate and enhance our cultural and heritage offer and assets."

Deputy council leader Chris Lewis, who is also the Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth, said: “We’re excited to offer local residents, businesses, and visitors the opportunity to shape the future of Union Square shopping centre. This ambitious redevelopment will transform the area, creating much-needed homes, leisure facilities, and public spaces that will benefit Torquay for generations to come. 

“We encourage everyone to have their say through the consultation.”

First reaction from David Rowe, who has operated a jewellery business in Torquay town centre for 50 years.

He is not for demolishing Union Square or seeing lots of affordable housing on the site.

He says: “They want to demolish the whole of Union Square and all the shops going down from the Nationwide to the market. The only thing left behind will be the car park and the former Wilko store, which will be a health centre.”

He says traders met with developers recently where there was talk of 100 social housing units comprising 100 apartments for single occupancy with single bedrooms.

He added: “They are doing away with the high street. There will be no retail units at all. There will just be railings. It is cutting the town in half.

"Torquay is short of decent-sized outlets, and there is a need for smaller independents.

"At the traders’ meeting last week, the manager of Iceland in Union Square said his shop was very, very busy. My fear is that they are just selling this for profiteering from a housing association.”

He added: “My hope is that the council would have more care for the high street. They do not have the will to push commercial agents to rent these units and look at the prices.”

He has let the former Gordon Rowe shop in Union Street and another retail outlet in Fleet Street only recently, but he has had to reduce rent levels to do so.

His vision? "Keep Union Square. The health centre is a good idea. The rest could be a supermarket, small shops, a chemist, and a restaurant. Demolish some of the buildings. They can be apartments but with smaller retail units beneath.It would save a fortune by not demolishing Union Square. There is nothing wrong with it. Why take a wrecking ball to it? It is totally bonkers.

“Yes, demolish all the old, rundown, 100-year (plus)-old buildings, replacing them with some modern living accommodation but shop units at street level. Much of the shop problems are a result of greedy landlords and expensive rates.”

Cllr Lewis said he had spoken to Mr Rowe: “He is concerned that it is going to be a building site for 18 months opposite his new shop.

"He said we are doing nothing to help Torquay. I told him that if we are going to change Torquay, we are going to have to take the pain to have the gain.”

He added: “It is not 100 per cent affordable housing. It will be a mix which Willmott Dixon are looking at. It will include key worker accommodation with people earning over £40,000 a year. The hospital is hundreds of workers short. They cannot get workers there, they are looking for places.

"The plan is for 30 per cent affordable housing with key workers and private accommodation. We do not want to create ghettos in our town centres. We had that when I was around in London in the 60s and 70s. That's when they built tower blocks which are all coming down now because they don't work.”

Darren Cowell is the leader of the Independents on the council. Expect to see him battling for more social and affordable housing in the development. In fact, if he had his way, affordable homes, perhaps with some key worker accommodation, would take up all the 100 units being planned, and he would not be against the development being bigger in height to provide more.

He says: “We took the decision to buy Union Square (when they were part of the administration in partnership with the Liberal Democrats) so that we would have control over redeveloping it. Redevelopment is to be welcomed. I think this kind of proposal will kickstart what we hope will be private sector investment in Union Street."

Cllr Cowell also recognised the need for change in where retail sits with more of a focus on the lower end of the town.

"Union Square is a positive start," he said. "I would like it to be more ambitious in terms of height with more residential space, but I gather there are some technical difficulties with that.”

He added: “When we were looking at the first concept we were looking at 200 units there which would have meant having a greater proportion of social rent and affordable homes. We would want to see more than 30 per cent. I have said they should maximise the number of social homes. If there was a mix of social and key worker accommodation, I would not have an issue with that.

"To talk about ghettos is snobbery. People living in social housing also work. There are also other reasons why people would move to the town centre, like to downsize or retire."

Lib Dem leader Swithin Long, who was in charge of regeneration under the last administration, said he was 'generally supportive' of the Union Square but again the amount of social housing proposed is an issue.

He said: "There is disappointment that there are only 100 homes as part of it. That means fewer affordable homes. The plan is to get more people living in the town centre.

"We are not going to solve Torbay's housing crisis if we don't have more affordable homes. There needs to be a step change. Using language like ghettos is not helpful. You don't hear anybody talking about ghettos of rich people."  

The council, Willmott Dixon and Milligan say it is vital that the community has its say.

Chris Wheeler, Regional Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are passionate about shaping and delivering developments that leave a lasting legacy for the community. Union Square looks to deliver a thriving community through high-quality new homes and employment opportunities for local people.”

Stuart Harris, CEO for developer Milligan, said: “Engaging with Torquay’s communities is a vital step in shaping the future of Union Square. We’re eager to hear from a broad and diverse range of voices, including the next generation, to ensure our plans reflect the aspirations and needs of the people who this town home. To get it right for Torquay’s future, we need the community’s ideas and perspectives on how they envision living and working in the neighbourhood.”

Torbay MP Steve Darling agreed: “I would strongly encourage residents to engage with this consultation. When I was leader of Torbay Council, we purchased the centre with a view to such developments, but we need to ensure the public has the opportunity to shape the final proposals. I will continue to campaign for the government to support our town centres through such things as reforming business rates and enhancing neighbourhood policing.”

The importance of this regeneration project cannot be understated, as Cllr Lewis says: "This scheme is vital. It is the first time we have brought in outsiders, Willmott Dixon and Milligan, with the expertise for doing this. We are not doing this on our own.

“That is why it has taken 12 months to get to this stage. We do not want to go through all this, and it comes to nothing.

"We wanted Willmott Dixon and Milligan to talk to investors and other people. They have come back and said they are excited about investing in Torbay.

"Everybody has different ideas, but they have to be viable. There is no point in coming up with a scheme and then going back to Willmott Dixon and Millifgan saying we don't want residential. They will say it would not work. We want a scheme that is viable. They are open to ideas but they will say if it is going to work.”

Social housing or social housing, 30 per cent, 100 per cent whatever. That all has to be ironed out.

This huge, game-changing scheme will change the face and future of Torquay town centre. If we get it right and give investors a return for their money and help solve some of the Bay’s acute housing crisis at the same time then fantastic.

It will be a catalyst for a new future and breathe new life into our Bay with no need for that life support machine.

We simply have to grab the moment. Now IS the time.

*Local residents, businesses, and visitors are invited to have their say via an online questionnaire: https://yoursay.torbay.gov.uk/unionsquare. Or by attending drop in events that will be taking place on:

Saturday November 30, from 11am until  3pm and Thursday, December 5, from 11am until 3pm.

Both events will be held in Unit 11, Union Square (opposite the stairwell and lift lobby). 

Torquay Library will have paper copies of the questionnaire along with information boards on the plans from Wednesday, November 27. 

The consultation will run until Friday, December 20, and following the feedback period, the project team intends to submit a planning application in spring 2025, with a decision expected in the first half of the year.