We will 'look at' keeping Debenhams canopy - and try to reopen Pavilion

They’re looking at what to do with the Debenhams Strand building after the retail chain went into administration

Hundreds of people say the historic cast-iron canopy has defined the site – next to the harbour - for more than 100 years and shouldn’t be lost.

Council Leader Steve Darling says he will look at 'what's possible' as they continue with long-term plans which could see the site demolished and replaced with restaurants and flats.

Last night the council's cabinet discussed plans for the building after the tenant announced it would be leaving before April this year - sooner than the January 2022 originally expected.

The report last night was for councillors to agree to focus on the building, saying: "The revised proposal is to submit a planning application for the larger of the two buildings to demolish and rebuild a mixed use development.

"The proposals will not include the smaller building at this time but will be designed in a way that allows further regeneration along the Strand in the future."

The Debenhams building report, discussed last night, can be found here.

Last night councillors also agreed to use £75,000 from the Torquay towns deal funding to pay for a feasibility study into the disused nearby pavilion building as they look to try and bring it back into use.

The plans were agreed following a discussion about the merit of the previous plans - which included a multi-storey hotel and some argued helped safeguard the long-term future of the pavilion.

Leader Councillor Darling told the meeting he felt the debate on the hotel 'had been had' and stressed the feasibility study was the first stage in looking at ways to 'restore the lady'.

The petition for the Debenhams canopy can be found here and the report discussed last night can be found here.

Torbay Council bought the former Debenhams building in 2020 to prevent it falling into disuse in the event of the 240-year-old high street chain going out of business.

It was announced earlier this year that the stores will not reopen.

Plans to demolish the Torquay Debenhams and replace it with flats and commercial use including restaurants on the ground floor were revealed in a report to a meeting of the council’s Cabinet.

Now an online petition has been launched to protect the canopy which covers a section of the pavement outside the premises in The Strand, opposite Torquay harbour.

The petition is hosted on the Change.org website, under the heading ‘Torbay Council: Keep The Canopy!’

A statement said: “It has recently been announced that the Debenhams building owned by Torbay Council on the Strand will be demolished. Fronting the building is a historic cast-iron canopy that has defined the Strand for more than a century. 

“Development of the prime site in question has the potential to transform the area through much-needed investment and prevent further decline. It is essential that Torquay’s character is not lost in the process. 

“The Debenhams building itself is a mix of pre-war and post-war buildings with little architectural merit. It is the cast-iron canopy that fronts the building which is very special indeed and must be saved.

“We want Torbay Council to make it a condition of the site’s future development that the cast-iron canopy be kept and incorporated into the new building. Furthermore, this canopy has style and elegance and we want some decent architecture to match. 

“This is the face of the Torquay Harbour Conservation Area and we cannot settle for second best on the Strand. We need to do better than before. 

“This is a golden opportunity to do something really special at one of our prime sites. We want to be able to give the future plans for it our full support. Torbay Council, make it easy for us – do better and #KeepTheCanopy!”

By Monday afternoon, more than 200 people had signed the petition. A Facebook page has also been set up as part of the campaign.

The campaign group says it will submit an application to list the canopy for its architectural and historic value, which would give it legal protection.

The £1.65million property deal to buy the Debenhams premises followed the council’s purchase of the Fleet Walk shopping centre in Torquay for £15million.

Debenhams shut its stores during lockdown in 2020 after the struggling business went into administration.

It was announced they would close for good after an online retailer bought the brand in January 2021, and the council is expected to take control of the building by April.

The redevelopment project would tie in with improvements to the public space around the harbourside, which is expected to see wider pavements, better seating and lighting.

That work is being planned as one of the regeneration projects in the £22million Town Deal package allocated to Torquay after a successful bid for Government funds.

It would also add to improvements in the area which have seen a £32million Hampton by Hilton hotel, office and retail development in nearby Torwood Street, and work under way on a new Premier Inn hotel on the Terrace car park overlooking the harbour.

Talks have been held with owners of other properties on the Strand, including the empty Boots store, to explore the possibility of a bigger regeneration project.

But that has been shelved because agreement has not been reached on values, and there are concerns that the time it would take to bring forward a wider scheme would delay progress at the empty Debenhams.