Paignton’s Torbay Road to undergo major upgrade ahead of Easter

Torbay Road in Paignton is set to undergo a series of street scene enhancements aimed at improving the main route to the town’s waterfront.

Torbay Council, working alongside SWISCo and in discussion with local businesses and Paignton Chamber of Commerce, said the changes would “declutter” the area and refresh ageing infrastructure. The work is being funded through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The council said the improvements would bring Paignton’s key visitor route in line with the presentation of waterfront areas in Torquay and Brixham.

Plans include removing trees and stumps that are not growing, as well as redundant feature lighting. Unused street furniture such as poles, bollards and signage will be taken away, while new infrastructure for hanging baskets and seasonal planting will be installed.

A deep clean of the street is also planned, alongside drainage clearance works. Existing highway infrastructure, including Manchester bollards and lighting columns, will be upgraded and repainted. New benches, planters and “Big Belly” bins are due to be installed. Painting of canopy columns and frames will take place, subject to agreement from property owners.

Work is scheduled to begin after the February half-term, with most improvements expected to be completed before the Easter holidays. The council said disruption to businesses and road users would be minimal.

Councillor Chris Lewis, cabinet member for place development and economic growth at Torbay Council, said: “The street scene improvements along Torbay Road are long overdue. By decluttering the area, deep cleaning, replacing tired bins and benches with high-quality new pieces, and introducing vibrant planting, we’re bringing Paignton’s main visitor street up to the same standard as our other waterfront areas.

“There is a huge amount of work happening across Paignton right now - restoring key buildings, preparing sites for future redevelopment, protecting homes and businesses, and improving our waterfront areas. We understand that some people feel progress isn’t visible, but in reality, Paignton has more active project sites than anywhere else in the Bay. Change of this scale is complex and can be disruptive, but the long-term benefits will be felt by the whole community”.

Paignton was awarded funding through the Future High Streets Fund in 2020 to support infrastructure improvements, housing and cultural projects.

The restoration of Paignton Picture House is under way and due for completion later this year.

The Paignton and Preston Waterfront project is on site, with completion expected in spring 2027.

Plans to transform Crossways into 91 affordable extra-care homes and a new day centre are also progressing, with construction expected to begin in the autumn.

Funding is also being used to prepare the Victoria Centre site for new homes and future health services. Proposals to enhance Station Square have been paused and will instead form part of the wider Paignton Gateway project, which includes plans for a multi-storey car park near the library and associated transport improvements.

The council said the community-led Future High Streets programme had helped shape the wider Paignton Town Centre Vision, which aims to better connect key sites across the town for residents, businesses and visitors.