£750,000 investment to revitalise Torquay about to get underway
Works will soon begin at Upton Park, Princess Gardens and Royal Terrace Gardens as part of the first phase
Three projects that received accelerated funding from the Towns Fund for Torquay’s Town Deal will start soon.
Enabling and development works will begin at Upton Park, Princess Gardens and Royal Terrace Gardens ahead of the full works starting as the £750,000 first phase of Town Investment Plan gets underway.
These projects will help to revitalise and regenerate the town centre and surrounding areas.
It is hoped the projects will create an improved experience for people using these spaces and are intended to encourage footfall to these locations.
"These projects are just the start of the exciting transformation of Torquay. By working with our community we now have an opportunity to achieve the major regeneration of Torquay we wanted and to build a prosperous future for the town. The accelerated projects give us an opportunity to make an immediate impact, and Torbay Council and its partners are working hard to deliver this."
Councillor Darren Cowell - Deputy Leader of Torbay Council
Investment in Upton Park will bring a variety of social benefits to the community and ensure residents and visitors are able to make best use of the location. Tree works will start immediately to increase light levels, sightlines and enhance the sense of space within the park.
The tree works will include the crown lifting of trees on the boundary of the park and highway. This will mean lower branches will be removed up to a height of eight metres above the ground on mature trees.
Trees which are being removed will be replaced with a replanting scheme to change the species diversity and age structure, whilst increasing wildlife potential.
Works to bring the netball facility back into use will follow, and further enhancements of the existing sports facilities.
The parks lighting is to be upgraded to a LED system which will further help improve the parks amenities and help with a sense of space and pride in the park.
Footpath and fencing will follow to improve access and enhance amenities and links through and within the space.
Improvements to Princess Gardens and Sunken gardens will provide better access, an event space within the former banjo area, enhanced landscape scheme for the gardens and around the war memorial, upgrading of the promenade lighting and enhanced illuminations.
Investment in Royal Terrace Gardens will include improving the illuminations along the sea front with more creative lighting year-round.
By linking Royal Terrace Gardens with Abbey Gardens and Princess Gardens the project will encourage more people to connect with the seafront, visit different locations and offer a boost to night-time economy.
The wider Town Investment Plan targets challenges at key locations, including Torquay Pavilion, and improving transport connections by supporting the Edginswell Rail station. The total development cost of the projects in the Town Investment Plan is an estimated £135 million.