The submission of the planning application for The Strand marks a major milestone in Torquay’s Regeneration Partnership journey. But like much of what is happening in Torquay, this moment is best understood not as a standalone announcement, but as part of a longer, more deliberate strategy to reshape the town centre over time.
The partnership approach being taken here is rooted in coordination rather than quick fixes, aligning public stewardship, private-sector delivery expertise and a shared vision for the town centre’s future. The Strand is a powerful expression of that vision.
Rather than being driven by a fixed masterplan, the Torquay regeneration programme has evolved around a clear but flexible vision. This approach has allowed individual sites to move forward when conditions are right, each playing a distinct role while contributing to a coherent overall strategy. Central to this is a town centre vision that focuses retail into a more compact, harbourside core. The repurposing of Union Square shopping centre, alongside the strategic revitalisation of Fleet Walk, will consolidate the retail footprint and improve the quality and resilience of the offer.
The Strand is a key part of this strategy. Positioned directly opposite Torquay Harbour and adjacent to Hoopers Department Store (founded in Torquay in 1982 and a long‑standing anchor at the harbourside) the site currently includes a number of vacant or underperforming buildings, including the former Debenhams store. The newly submitted planning application proposes a hotel‑led, mixed‑use redevelopment that would re‑activate this prominent frontage, reconnect it with surrounding streets, and support a stronger, year‑round economy for Torquay. The proposals include:
- A 4–6 storey hotel providing approximately 144–150 rooms, responding to identified demand for higher quality visitor accommodation
- Active ground floor commercial showcasing the best independent operators from the region
- Public realm and landscape improvements, strengthening the relationship between the town centre and the harbour
- A new stepped pedestrian route linking The Strand with The Terrace, improving connectivity and permeability
- Retention and refurbishment of No. 7 The Strand and the Grade II listed former bank at No. 8, alongside sensitive redevelopment of the remainder of the site
One of the core lessons from Torquay is that town centre renewal rarely follows a straight line. It requires long term commitment, the ability to adapt, and partnership structures that can endure political and economic change.
The Strand sits within that enabling framework. Its delivery has been shaped by cross‑party support, clear governance and alignment with wider town centre objectives, including strengthening the visitor economy, improving everyday usefulness for residents, and making better use of publicly owned assets to catalyse change.
The Strand is not intended to operate in isolation, but as part of a wider set of town centre interventions that, together, help to shift perceptions and patterns of use over time. Complementing this, emerging proposals for Torquay’s Pavilion would see the landmark brought back into active use as a cultural and leisure destination at the harbourside. Collectively, these projects underpin a more vibrant and resilient year‑round town centre.
The Strand demonstrates what that approach can unlock: a high profile, commercially credible development that improves public access, responds sensitively to its setting and supports Torquay’s ambition to be a more active, resilient and welcoming town centre throughout the year.
As the application progresses, it will continue to be shaped by dialogue with stakeholders and the local community, reinforcing the vision led approach that has underpinned Torquay’s regeneration journey to date.
