Torbay Pavilion rescue plans on a ‘knife-edge’

What will happen next?

Plans to rescue one of Torbay’s best-loved historic buildings have been left on a ‘knife-edge’ after hitting a major snag.

Now a question mark hangs over plans to restore the Pavilion on Torquay seafront to its former glory.

Torbay Council had been due to take back the long-term lease on the Pavilion on Torquay seafront at the end of September.

That would have signalled the beginning of an ambitious programme to restore the former theatre, which has also served as a skating rink and shopping centre before closing more than a decade ago.

But a hold-up over the paperwork with leaseholders MDL Marinas means doubt now hangs over the building’s future.

“It’s on a knife-edge,” said Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) (Con, Preston), cabinet member with responsibility for ‘place development and economic growth’.

He added: “We thought everything was fine, then some other things were thrown in right at the end and we had to make sure our legal team looked at them.”

Campaigners trying to speed up the rescue have already threatened the council with legal action if more delays cause it to fall further into decay and disrepair.

They also warn that vandalism has left the building vulnerable to intruders. The fear of an arson attack also hangs over the Pavilion.

First opened as a theatre in 1912, the Pavilion was held by Southampton-based MDL Marinas on a lease which was designed to run until 2084.

Under pressure from the community, the council voted to take back the lease, but there was no agreement on who should pay for repairs, leading to what council officers describe as a ‘stalemate’.

No future use has yet been specified for the Pavilion, but the council has previously considered  culture, food and drink, heritage and leisure uses. An ambitious scheme which would have seen it become the ‘front of house’ for a giant new hotel was rejected after years of wrangling.

In a statement on social media, the council said: “Earlier this year we said that an agreement had been reached with MDL.  The agreement was about MDL surrendering the lease back to us so we could progress plans with restoring the Pavilion. We agreed with MDL that this would happen on 30 September 2024.

“Late last week, MDL came to us with changes to the agreement. To make sure these changes are in the best interest of the bay and the restoration of the Pavilion, we need some time to carefully consider these.

“We had hoped to share more positive news this week with you, but we now feel we won’t be able to confirm the outcome of our discussions until next week.”

Cllr Lewis went on: “We believe that by the end of next week the situation will be resolved one way or the other. We are doing everything possible to get it across the line.”