Plans for £75m hotel project on landmark site

A £75m hotel development could revitalise a landmark harbourside site that has been derelict for more than five years, according to a council leader.

Torbay Council wants planning permission for a 150-bedroom hotel on The Strand in Torquay which would involve the demolition of some buildings, including the former Debenhams department store.

The council said it would then look to work with a developer and a hotel firm to deliver the project, which it said would be "a gamechanger" for the town.

There is opposition to the scheme, with Historic England expressing concern and the Torbay Civic Society saying the proposed development would be too big and not in keeping with the surrounding area.

The Debenhams store in Torquay closed in 2021.

There were previous plans to build flats and a retail development on the site but they were found to be "not financially viable".

David Thomas, the Conservative leader of Torbay Council, said the authority was already talking with developers and hotel firms and the project would be funded by a combination of council cash and private investment.

He said: "I can't stress it enough - this really is a gamechanger for Torbay.

"Investors and hotel groups are saying this is probably the best hotel site left in the South West."

The council has carried out extensive work to redevelop the area on the other side of the road with more than £20m of government funding.

Thomas said: "People rightly enthuse about this space but then they look across the road and they see Debenhams."

The council has bought most of the properties on the site and said it would consider compulsory purchase orders of two remaining properties if the planning application was successful.

The planned hotel would be up to six storeys high and have a rooftop bar, with shops, bars and restaurants on the ground floor.

In its response to the planning application, Historic England said it was concerned the height of the building would block "important views" from The Terrace, a row of houses in a crescent shape above the hotel site that were built in 1811.

Sally Allen-Gerard, chairwoman of Torbay Civic Society, said she was also concerned about the impact on The Terrace, as well as potential noise issues, traffic concerns and how the new building would fit into the area.

She said: "It's going to be totally incongruous within the environment which is a conservation area.

"The actual design doesn't take into account the historic buildings surrounding it."

Allen-Gerard said "something has to be built there" but said the building's designers should "go back to the drawing board".

Residents and holidaymakers out enjoying the September sunshine on The Strand had mixed views about the proposals.

Lisa Harris, on holiday from Pontypridd, Wales, said: "All I can think of is that it's got to be a lot nicer than how it's looking now."

Paul King, "born and bred" in Torquay, said: "I'd like to see it improved because it needs updating.

"We've got one of the best seafronts here - you can't beat this promenade all the way to Torre Abbey."

But Janina Millar, who used to own hotels, said the plans were "absolutely ridiculous".

She said: "Torquay, like a lot of seaside towns, has failed, there's nothing to do and there's nowhere to go - who's going to use this hotel?"

Torbay Council's planning committee is due to make a decision on the plans later on Wednesday.

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