Paignton 'open for business' despite demolitions

'We are at a point where we can bring exciting changes forward'

Demolition work will begin soon on a shopping complex and car park in the centre of Paignton.

Torbay Council says knocking down the unloved Victoria Centre and its car park will pave the way for a new chapter for the town.

In place of the shopping centre, which until recently housed a Lidl supermarket, the council plans to build housing for local people as well as units for new businesses.

The Paignton Town Centre Masterplan document - adopted nearly a decade ago - earmarked the area for redevelopment, and it formed part of the town’s successful bid for more than £13 million from the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

Once demolition is complete, the Victoria Centre site will be used as a 500-space flat car park until work begins on redeveloping it.

Plans are currently being drawn up by council leaders and regeneration partners Willmott Dixon and Milligan, but redevelopment cannot begin until full planning permission has been given.

The demolished Crossways site in Hyde Road is also being used as a car park for 150 vehicles while the council works out what to do with it.

Deputy council leader Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) said: “The way we use our town centres and high streets has changed, and like many other UK towns we have been preparing plans to ensure they remain fit for the future.

“The redevelopment of the Victoria Centre has been talked about for 10 years and we are now at a point where we can bring exciting changes forward. We have already started to unlock the site with the demolition of Garfield Road car park and Lidl deciding to leave the town centre. Commercially sensitive conversations are also under way with other retailers and occupiers of the site.

“Everything is being done as quickly as possible to bring temporary car parking locations forward to minimise disruption to the community. The message is clear, Paignton remains open for business.”