Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster has today (Tuesday 3rd January 2023) emphasised the new year must see work starting on major projects under the £21.9m Torquay Town Deal, as the final business case in Torquay’s Town Investment Plan is due to be submitted for funding approval.
Torquay’s Town Deal funding was awarded by the Conservative Government back in October 2020. This followed a process which started with a delegation from Torbay meeting Ministers back in 2018 to emphasise how Torbay would be an ideal place for a Town Deal approach. This followed the first Town Deal being agreed with Grimsby.
Projects to be supported by the £21.9m Town Deal grant include 12-14 The Strand (former Debenhams building), the Pavilion, Edginswell Station, the Strand Public Realm and Town Centre Public Realm (GPO roundabout). In addition to Town Deal funding, the Department of Transport confirmed on 26 November 2020, work to construct the new Edginswell Station would receive £7.8m of funding from the New Stations Fund.
Town Deal funded projects at Upton Park, Princess and Royal Terrace Gardens are already having an impact as well as the Illumination Trail as part of the Bay of Lights initiative, yet major projects envisaged under the town deal are yet to start work.
Next week Torbay Council’s Cabinet, made up of a Coalition of Lib Dem and Independent Councillors, will consider the final business case for a major project under the Torquay Town Deal. The business case focuses on reshaping Union Square Shopping Centre after Torbay Council purchased the site after the owners put it on the market during the summer of 2022. It would see £11m of Town Deal funding allocated to it.
As this final business case is submitted, Torbay’s MP is clear there now needs to be concerted action to deliver the Town Deal Plans after delays in getting major projects started in 2022.
Kevin Foster MP said: “The project to reshape and revitalise Union Square will breathe much needed new life into a part of Torquay Town Centre which has seen major retailers close and needs transformation. I therefore welcome Torbay Council getting to the stage where it will now submit the final business case.”
“Yet the core message to Torbay Council is it has now been over 2 years since the Government awarded this funding and it must start getting work underway on the ground. The first 3 accelerated projects made a difference, with Upton Park and the Bay of Lights a great example of the impact Town Deal funding can have, yet the start of work on major projects, such as improvements to The Strand, has been delayed.”
“The Conservative Government has done its bit by providing tens of millions in funding to support Torquay’s regeneration, now we need to see delivery locally of the change this funding aims to deliver in Torquay Town Centre.”
