£20.25million secured from Levelling Up Partnership to regenerate coastline, more homes and Oldway Mansion

Monday, 20 May 2024 08:00

By Chris Collman

Government has confirmed this week that we have been successful in being named as the latest place to benefit from a major tailored regeneration programme.

Along with the representatives on the Torbay Place Leadership Board, we have worked together to submit and develop a programme with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

This takes the amount of funding we have secured to just over £105million, alongside the Regeneration Partnership announced last year. This sees a further £100million committed to the Bay from the private sector.

The projects identified to receive support from this Partnership include:

£8million to fund the first phase of the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Oldway Mansion.
£7million for lighting, improved accessibility, signage and other improvements as part of the Paignton and Preston Sea defences. Reducing the danger of flooding and improving people’s pride in the area.
£3.25million to convert disused holiday accommodation, such as former guesthouses and large B&Bs, into permanent homes for residents.
£1million to support improvements to Brixham’s central car park. Including new seating and signage and increasing the number of parking spaces.
£500,000 to transform vacant buildings into cultural and creative spaces. To nurture and showcase local talent and provide more opportunities for local people.
£500,000 for improvements to community and youth provision in some of Torbay’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

Cllr David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council said: “Hearing that we have secured this Levelling Up Partnership is fantastic news. This, along with other funding already secured for the Bay, will really give us the opportunity to drive forward a range of projects that will have an impact on all three of our towns of the Bay - Brixham, Paignton and Torquay.”

"Torbay is at the beginning of a once in a generation transformation journey. Our focus is on, and will continually be on, making the most of our marine and natural environment alongside the heritage that has shaped the English Riviera. We will be doing this through regeneration, delivering meaningful improvements, benefiting those who live and work in the Bay.

"Telling our story and being part of the Torbay Place Leadership Board means we are collectively raising awareness of our aspirations for our place. Working together in this way has significantly improved the funding and support we are getting locally, regionally and nationally from Government and the private sector."

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said: “Torbay is at the heart of our levelling up agenda, and I have been delighted to work with local leaders to develop this partnership to ensure it delivers for people.

“The investment will provide a major levelling up boost to the area including by providing more homes for local people helping bring the historic Oldway Mansion back to its former glory and deliver the brighter bay residents deserve.”

Jim Parker, Chair of the Torbay Place Leadership Board, said: "This funding is another massive boost for the English Riviera.

"The Torbay Place Leadership Board played a significant role in securing this latest investment. I would just like to say a personal thank you to all the partners for giving up their invaluable time and energy in making this happen as well as to the Torbay Council Officers and Councillors who have been working extremely hard and against the clock behind the scenes.

"With game changing regeneration investment from both the public and private sector and the power of working together, Torbay is truly on the cusp of a new beginning. bringing the Torbay Story to life to make our home THE place to work, live, visit and invest in."

Levelling Up Partnerships, first announced in the 2023 Spring Budget, are bespoke regeneration programmes targeted in areas that have too often been ignored. The government uses these partnerships to level up skills and opportunities, improve people’s quality of life, and address deep-rooted local challenges, giving these areas the best possible chance to thrive.

Funding secured for Torbay

Along with the Levelling Up Partnership funding announced this week, we have secured the following funding to support our once in a generation regeneration programme:

Future High Streets Fund - £13.36million - which will support schemes in Paignton including Paignton Picture House, Victoria Square, Station Square, Torbay Road public realm, Crossways, Paignton and Preston Sea Defence.
Town Deal for Torquay - £21.9million - which will support schemes in Torquay including Union Square, Debenham, Harbour public realm, GPO roundabout and Pavilion.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund - £2.4million - which will be supporting community, local businesses, people and improving skills.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Heritage Places - (£10million) - this funding will be supporting our heritage sites over the next 10 years. The exact plans are being worked on.

We have also secured Levelling Up Funding (£20million) for improvements to the Brixham Port infrastructure and a new Torbay Technology Park as well as the Long Term Plans for Towns (£20million). Business cases are currently being worked on and will be submitted.

About the Torbay Story and Torbay Place Leadership Board

In 2021 the Torbay Place Leadership Board spoke with partners, businesses and residents from across Torbay to develop a forward looking, positive and compelling story of Torbay and the three towns of Brixham, Paignton and Torquay.

This was so that together Torbay can be put on the map, highlight the great things about the area and talk about the opportunities we can offer to attract investment, create jobs and attract funding from Government.

This is a fresh new approach to be place not organisation led. This work builds on the successes of the partnership but also reflects the need to look outwards and think bigger as Torbay seeks to bring prosperity for all its residents.

The Torbay Place Leadership Board is made up of representatives from: