Council backs waterfront redevelopment after long-running eyesore sits empty
Torbay Council has approved plans for a £75 million hotel to be built on the long-derelict Debenhams site on Torquay’s Strand, a decision that supporters say will revive a prominent stretch of the harbour while critics warn it will damage the town’s historic character.
The scheme, agreed after a three-hour planning committee meeting, would replace the vacant department store — closed in 2021 — with a six-storey, 150-bedroom hotel featuring a rooftop bar. The council says it will work with a developer and hotel operator to deliver the project and has already acquired most of the properties within the proposed footprint.
- Estimated development cost: £75m
- Accommodation: 150 bedrooms
- Height: six storeys with a rooftop bar
- Site status: Debenhams store closed in 2021; some buildings to be demolished or partially demolished
Supporters of the project framed the scheme as a much-needed stimulus for local jobs and tourism. The leader of Torbay Council, David Thomas (Conservative), described the plans as a “gamechanger” for the bay and said funding would come from a mix of council cash, potential grant awards and private investment.
“This is a first class proposal for a high-quality hotel,”
The comment came from Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton), who told councillors that the economic benefits outweigh any negative impacts. Fellow Conservative Cllr Nick Bye (Wellswood) also called the development a “game-changer” for Torbay’s tourism and hospitality sector. Cllr Anna Tolchard (Con, St Peters with St Marys) said the project was precisely what Torquay needs to restore its former appeal.
But the application attracted a number of objectors, including local amenity groups and heritage bodies. The Torbay Civic Society raised concerns over the scale and design, with spokesman Jonty Williams describing the proposal as “monotonous and unrelenting”, arguing it fails to integrate with the town’s established streetscape. Historic England has also flagged potential adverse effects on The Terrace, the 1811-built row that sits behind the site.
Other local objections focused on the building’s height and the impact of the rooftop bar on neighbours. Rodney Horder of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum warned that the scale could harm the surrounding area and that the rooftop facility would be “totally incongruous”. Objector Margaret Forbes-Hamilton urged a return to the drawing board on design.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Former Debenhams store, the Strand, Torquay |
| Closure | 2021 |
| Proposed build | Six storeys, 150 bedrooms, rooftop bar |
| Council position | Supportive; partly funded by council funds alongside private investment and possible grants |
Members of the planning committee debated whether the economic benefits of a new high-quality hotel would outweigh the concerns about appearance and scale. For some councillors the chance to replace an eyesore that has blighted the Strand for more than five years was decisive.
Locally, reactions are likely to be mixed. Hoteliers and hospitality workers may welcome new employment and visitor capacity, while residents and conservation groups will watch carefully to see how final designs and mitigation measures address issues of massing, materials and impacts on neighbouring historic fabric.
Torbay Council has not ruled out using compulsory purchase powers to assemble the full site, and said it will progress negotiations with a developer and hotel brand to move the scheme towards delivery. The coming months will show whether the project can reconcile local sensitivities with the economic ambitions set out by its backers.
This decision marks a pivotal moment for the waterfront: a large-scale intervention that promises renewal but also raises important questions about how Torquay balances regeneration with protecting the character that drew visitors here for generations.
