Dave Thomas: Paignton and Preston Promenade Scheme to deliver a bright future for local communities

The sunny weather from early spring through to late summer has allowed people to make the most of our wonderful towns, countryside, and coastlines.

We’ve had reports of high visitor numbers and very healthy bookings for accommodation. This is great news for both our local businesses and the future of Torbay as a premium UK destination.

Our changing climate is predicted to bring warmer temperatures to the south west.  Warmer weather extends the seasons and will attract more visitors to the Bay, especially for beach holidays and outdoor activities. Climate change will provide benefits but also challenges. Alongside hotter, drier summers, we are predicted to experience rising sea levels and more extreme storm events that may threaten our coastal communities.

As a council, we are committed to protecting our most vulnerable communities from the threat of rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Estimates show that over the next 50 years, more than 350 properties in Paignton and Preston are at risk of flooding due to climate change. Torbay is built on the success of all three towns, Torquay, Paignton and Brixham; we are committed to securing their futures.

The Paignton and Preston Promenade Scheme will develop new coastal defences and improved public spaces for the communities of Torbay. The development will protect Paignton and Preston from rising sea levels over the next 50 years. The scheme has been designed as an enhanced public space with integrated coastal flood defences. The promenades will feature an improved, accessible layout, with enhanced seating and coastal planting. These features will combine to provide an improved attraction for all, encouraging more visitors and allowing businesses to thrive.

So, when is this all going ahead? From late September of this year, you’ll start to notice activity around the seafronts. We worked with communities to avoid impact from development on this year’s peak summer season. Development of the scheme will then run in phases. Development at Paignton is forecast to run in three phases until early summer 2027 and a single phase at Preston is planned until spring 2027.

Construction of a scheme of this size will take time and is likely to include some disruption. Our intention is to minimise the impact on local tourism, businesses and people who regularly use the seafront areas. Access along the proms will remain open, although at a reduced width where development is taking place. Whilst the number of access points to the beach may require some minor changes, the beaches themselves will remain open as normal for people to enjoy.

We also want to safeguard the events that take place on Paignton and Preston Greens. There may be some impact during construction but we're working to ensure that businesses can continue to trade, and events, including the council’s own, can still go ahead.

The scheme is part of a bigger plan for Torbay’s future. It supports the goals in the Torbay Community and Corporate Plan, which aim to make Torbay a healthy, happy, and prosperous place for everyone.

The plan focuses on three main areas: Community and People, Pride in Place, and Economic Growth. The new coastal defences help with all three. They protect homes and businesses, improve public spaces, and make Torbay more attractive for visitors and investors.

By investing in the defence of our coastline and the improvement of our promenades, we’re helping people feel proud of where they live. We’re also making sure our towns remain safe and attractive for future generations of residents and visitors alike.

We’re holding a drop-in session on Tuesday 9 September at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton where you can meet our team. The event will run from 4 to 7pm. Alternatively, all information is available on our website by searching ‘Paignton and Preston Promenade’.

We’re excited about these changes and hope you are too. Thank you for supporting us as we work to secure a bright future for Torbay.