Business Focus
There are many organisations, initiatives and development programmes currently active in Torquay and around the bay in general. This list will hopefully give you some idea of who's who and what's what. TQCC is either a member of or works closely with these to further business development in the area.
Organisations
Torbay Council
Contacts:- Steve Darling/Darren Cowell
Email:- steve.darling@torday.gov.uk
Torbay Business Forum
Is a voluntary organisation set up to help bring together businesses - professionally and socially.
Contact:- Steve Reynolds
Email:- steve.reynolds1@barclays.com
Tel:- 01626 366750
TDA Group
An award winning provider of business and property services, workspace management and affordable housing.
Contact:- Alan Denby, Divisional Director Economy, Environment & Infrastructure | Place
Email:- alan.denby@torbay.gov.uk
Tel:- 01803 926310
Brixham Chamber of Commerce
Contact:- Matthew Crabtree
Email:- matthew.crabtree@thomaswestcott.co.uk
Tel:- 01803 855210
Paignton Chamber of Commerce
Contact:- Sally Cope
Email:- sally@koruconnections.co.uk
Tel:- 07963 959859
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
Is a partner of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, caring for the Geopark's places from cliff tops to beaches, woodlands to working fishing ports, country parks and nature reserves.
Contact:- Ray Bedder (Chair)
Email:- info@countryside-trust.org.uk
Tel:- 01803 520022
English Riviera Bid Company
Funded by a levy collected by the council, the Bid company's primary role is promoting inbound tourism to the bay on a local, national and international basis.
Contact:- Carolyn Custerson CEO
Email:- enquiries@englishrivierabid.co.uk
Tel:- 01803 211211
South Devon College
Contact:- Laurence Frewin Principal and CEO
Email:- laurencefrewin@southdevon.ac.uk
Tel:- 0800 0380123
Torbay Culture
Their mission is to ‘enable the cultural and creative development of Torbay through collaboration, making our home – the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark - a better place in which to live, work, learn and visit.’
Contact:- Jacob Brandon Chair
Email:- C/O The TDA (see above)
KINS
Quarterly On line meetings with "stake holders" re Crime and ASB
Contact:- Inspector Andrea Kingdon
Email:- andrea.kingdon@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
TCDT (Torbay Community Development Trust )
Enabling Torbay to be a place where all feel included and can be involved in growing a connected, vibrant, thriving, creative and prosperous community.
Contact:- Tracey Cabache
Email:- traceycabache@torbaycdt.org.uk
Torre and Upton Community Partnership
Community Partnership for Torre and Upton part of the Neighbourhood plan ; constituted group with treasurer and minutes
Contact:- Margaret Forbes Hamiliton
Email:- fhamilton@hotmail.com
Tel:- 01803 389288
Wellswood Community Partnership
Community Partnership for Wellswood part of the Neighbourhood plan ; constituted group with treasurer and minutes ( these are just 2 of the Partnerships which make up the Neighbourhood plan )
Contact:- John Rawson
Email:- rjrawson@btinternet.com
Tel:- 01803 214356
Torquay Town Centre Partnership
Group of traders; unconstituted group/no minutes/no treasurer
Contact:- Roger Walters
Email:- roger@rogwalters.co.uk
Development programmes/initiatives
Town Deal Board (TDT) : plan commenced 2019
£21.9 million allocated to Torquay by Central Government for the improvement of the Town; projects discussed/assessed and then allocated the funding.
Contact:- Vince Flower ( Chair ) / Kevin Foster MP ( Vice Chair )
Email:- vince.flower659@gmail.com. kevin@kevinjfoster.com
Tel:- 01803 873033 (Vince Flower)
Debenhams
Council purchased site for £2 million. Requested a further £2 million from the TDT (see above) for demolishing the site. This sum was then subsequently re-assigned as "acquisition". Requested sight of the Business plan multiple times. Very little progress; plans publicised by TDA; no progress regarding the site as yet.
The Pavilion
Intention was to "cover" the Pavilion to allow work to assess the extent of the deterioration. Initially the cost was circa £350k. At the last meeting in January 2023 the cost for covering had ballooned to £2.5 million. Sight of the quotes has been requested to clarify reasons for increase in costs but the Council have refused claiming that this information is "commercially sensitive". No progress.
Premier Inn
Council decided that they would build a hotel on the Terrace Care ( Council owned)partnered with Premier Inn. Midas who were the construction firm subsequently ceased trading in Nov/Dec 2022. There is apparently a penalty clause of £600,000 that Premier Inn can invoke for the project no being completed within the contracted time. Have asked for confirmation from the Council but to date have neither confirmed or denied. In addition there is the question of a potential payment of £600k per annum for the term of the lease ( 47 years) to be paid to Premier Inn. This has not been confirmed or denied by the council. To date the new Contractor Willmott Dixon is yet to sign contract to recommence building. Contract in place for tidying and making the site safe but as yet no progress on the completion of the project..
Union Square
Initially the plans were to bring Torbay Hospital Integrated Care into the area along with housing for low wage earners. Talks did not progress with Hospital. Council then appointed "specialists" to assess the area and give more ideas. Eventually in Jan 2023 Council purchased site ; no progress as yet.
Strand Development
Plans were drawn up by local architect to reduce carriageways to one each way in front of Hoopers etc . Bus stops would be relocated to Cary Green and the taxi rank moved to the other side of the harbour. The overall intention of the plan is to increase the pavement area to allow more café culture. Tenders have been sent out twice but no contractors have expressed an interest therefore no tangible progress.
GPO Roundabout
Project was to improve the pedestrianisation of the area and several alternatives were presented to the public in Dec 2022 without costings. Despite two of the ideas apparently being appealing the Council will have to re publicise when costed. No progress .
Living Coasts
Prior to the Pandemic developers approached the Council to purchase Living Coasts with the intention of creating a sea museum and incorporating the adjacent beach for disabled Water Sports and a world class jet ski and other water orientated attractions. Wild Planet Trust ( part of Paignton Zoo ) were approached but the Council intervened and said that they would negotiate. Living Coasts closed and has remained closed since and despite news that a deal was about to be signed, it appears that is no longer on the table and therefore no further progress has been made.