Torbay has some of Devon's finest landmark buildings and prime real estate. Grand hotels, long-established restaurants, imposing historic buildings, money-making attractions and lucrative town centre sites.
But while most of them are thriving it is inevitable that over the years some will fall into disrepair or need redevelopment. DevonLive regularly updates readers on the latest plans for prominent sites.
Here is a round-up of some of those major developments in the Bay - from bulldozed shopping centres to eyesore hotels, famous historic landmarks to prominent and much-loved seafront buildings.
This era-defining building first opened in 1912 and operated as a theatre until the mid-1970s. After that it became an ice rink and later a shopping complex
The Pavilion has been falling into disrepair since it became vacant in 2013. In February, Torbay Council moved to regain control as it seeks new investors to revitalise the derelict attraction saying the iconic building deserved as much protection as other notable structures.
The committee voted unanimously to take back the lease on the Grade Two-listed former theatre from Marina Developments Ltd (MDL). Restoration work could begin by late summer, but more investment is needed.
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 the Pavilion becoming the ‘front of house’ for a giant new hotel was rejected after years of wrangling.
There has been much speculation in Paignton about the future of The Boathouse. The iconic building stands at one end of Preston Sands, close to the famous beach huts, and was always popular with holidaymakers and dog walkers.
It has a large open plan bar/restaurant, an overspill restaurant/function room and a large outside commercial terrace with sea views and capacity for more than 100 people. It shut suddenly in 2022 and has remained closed ever since.
In March, local estate agents Bettesworth announced it was on the brink of being sold to new owners. A sign on the front of building had the words 'Under Offer' added.
There was hope a deal would be announced publicly by Easter. Details on a new era for The Boathouse are expected imminently.
Oldway has been at the heart of Paignton for many years and is one of the largest and grandest Victorian buildings in the Southwest. Torbay Council is currently working on a funding strategy for one of the Bay’s most complex regeneration projects.
Everyone agrees Oldway, built by the sewing machine magnate Isaac Singer, is much-loved and needs a new lease of life. Making those plans a reality has proved an enormous challenge - not least because the cost of restoration is forecasted to be in the region of £54million and will take a decade to complete.
But Torbay Council has been speaking with private sector partners about opportunities for the site and pots of money have been made available to help. Any plans for a sustainable future are likely to include luxury apartments on the top floors to help fund the massive cost.
Key features of a masterplan include restoring the mansion, outbuildings and grounds; improving access to the gardens; re-opening the register office and creating a new space for events and gatherings.
One thing is for certain - when the Corbyn Head Hotel in Torquay is finished it will become a prominent landmark for generations. Constructed at a cost of £23 million it had to overcome years of planning delays and opposition from hundreds of local residents unhappy about its size, scale and loss of views.
It will have 152 rooms, rooftop bar, spa, restaurant and terraces. The completion date is currently set for January 2025. Willmott Dixon is building the hotel for the Fragrance Group.
This week it was announced that an important milestone in its construction had been reached. The giant crane which has dominated the skyline will be removed at the end of the month. Motorists face traffic delays when temporary lights and traffic reduced to a single lane on Torbay Road.
There is expected to be good news soon about Crossways. Paignton's shopping centre is no more - what was once the town's first indoor shopping arcade has been demolished. Regeneration plans for the prime town centre site have yet to emerge from the rubble.
Torbay Council says after the failure of a previous scheme to build 90 care and sheltered housing units it intends to present new ideas in the spring. The fear is that plans may not get off the drawing board for a number of years, leaving a prime real estate void in the centre of town.
But efforts are being made to shape the future of the site. The appointment of Wilmot Dixon and Milligan as the council's regeneration partner led to a review of the development options for the site and there are talks with potential occupiers.
Any options for the future are likely to include affordable housing and possibly flats for key workers.
An eyesore hotel site in Torquay is in the process of being sold - seven years after it was badly damaged in a fire. The Bancourt Hotel, in Avenue Road, has been abandoned since a fire in the spring of 2017.
A plan to redevelop the site into a luxury care home for wealthy pensioners failed when property firm Carlauren collapsed in 2019. The company marketed a number of buildings around the country and its demise left investors millions of pounds out of pocket.
The former 52-room Torquay hotel, once a popular wedding and function venue, has become a sad sight in recent years. Decaying signage from the old hotel remains on the building and it is surrounded by wooden hoardings.
But administrators said in February they are hopeful it will soon have new owners. Jim Haddow at Quantuma said: "The property is in the process of being sold. It's been a particularly complex and challenging sale because of the nature of the scheme put in place by the previous owners."
The owners of a landmark Torbay hotel are being allowed to begin a massive redevelopment to turn it into 'the ultimate celebration of luxury'. The Tudor Hotels Collection owns the 150-year-old Redcliffe Hotel at Paignton, adding it to a portfolio which also includes Kents Cavern in Torquay and the famous Bodmin Jail Hotel.
Now Torbay council's planning department has agreed the redevelopment can start. The department's decision was published on Thursday 29 February.
Among the people to post comments supporting the plans was Torbay MP Kevin Foster, who wrote: "This proposal is a welcome plan to invest a significant amount of money not only upgrading hotel facilities, but also restoring and improving the historic appearance of this building.
Building work is expected to start in the summer.
One of Devon's oldest tourist sites could be transformed into a major international attraction under ambitious plans outlined by its new owners. Kents Cavern, a prehistoric cave complex in Torquay, was bought by the Tudor Hotel Collection last year.
The new owners have plans to invest millions in the visitor attraction - often dubbed Britain's oldest home due to its use by early humans. Tudor says the attraction is a "hidden gem" and wants to maximise its potential as a flagship tourist destination and "centre of Stone Age learning" in Britain.
The project, which is still at the concept stage, was outlined in a presentation by Kents to local tourism leaders. They were shown AI-generated images of what the attraction could look like in the years to come.
Work to transform the harbourside area of Torquay is still on schedule and will be finished later this year - despite some delays causing a change to the timescale. That's the promise of Torbay Council which is overseeing one of the biggest revamp projects seen in the town for decades.
The latest photos from the site show Phase 2 of the construction work well under way. Much of the old road has been dug up. Traffic management systems and temporary lights are in place along Torwood Street, Victoria Parade and Strand Junctions.
In February, the council updated its timeline for the five-phase project which started late last year and when finished will create a pedestrian-friendly Harbour Public Realm at the prime site.
