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23 Oct 2025

Benches go in as Torquay harbour work nears completion

Finishing touches being put to waterfront facelift but contractors will be back in New Year

Torquay harbour new benches installed

Torquay harbour new benches installed

The finishing touches are being put to the new-look Torquay harbourside scheme - but contractors will be back in the New Year.

Torbay Council says that delivering the Harbour Public Realm project has 'not been without its challenges'. But it says contractors were able to complete the substantial works by the target date of Friday November 20 which saw the full reopening of the road to traffic and the start of the Bay of Lights Illumination Trail.

This week there has been:

  • The removal of the temporary traffic lights and the commissioning of the permanent signals.
  • The installation of some of the new benches.
  • Planted completed (by SWISCo).
  • Paving work completed at the bottom of Fleet Street and in some areas of Victoria Parade.

The council says in an update there will be some 'final remaining works' that will need to be completed from January.

  • From Monday January 6

    • Widening of the footpath by the taxi office (Cary Parade / Cary Green).
    • Installing the remaining benches.

    From mid-January

    • Completing paving work at Park Lane / Torwood Street.
    • Snagging works.

    From Monday February 17

    • Installation of street lighting columns. This is the earliest date that National Grid has given the local authority for these works.

    The update said: "As we approach the festive break, we have requested that the contractor makes safe any outstanding work areas, this does include laying temporary (tarmac) surfaces in areas that will be paved in the new year so that any site / safety fencing can be removed.

    "We have also requested that site compounds, such as the one outside the Pavilion is compacted and left tidy so we can offer more footpath space to pedestrians.

    "We are aware that bringing the contractor back to site in January will have an impact on the contract (albeit reduced) and the agreed completion date. This is a commercially sensitive matter which will be addressed by us and the contractor.

    "Whilst the full completion of the project is taking longer than we anticipated, it is essential that we ensure all work is completed to a high standard."

    They added: "We will be holding a ‘lessons learned’ meeting with the contractor in the new year so that we can be sure that some of the issues both parties have raised can be addressed prior to the commencement of work on other projects (Station Square in Paignton).

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