Torbay Council has announced a series of street scene enhancements for Torbay Road in Paignton, aimed at improving the town’s main route to the waterfront and boosting the overall visitor experience.
Working alongside SWISCo and engaging with the local business community, the council will deliver a programme of upgrades designed to declutter the area, refresh outdated infrastructure and bring the street in line with the quality and presentation seen in Brixham and Torquay.
The improvements are being funded through the government’s Future High Streets Fund. Conversations with local business owners and Paignton Chamber of Commerce have shown strong support for the plans, with many welcoming the changes and saying even small upgrades will make a noticeable difference.
What’s planned for Torbay Road
The works will include:
* Removing trees and stumps that are not growing or thriving, along with redundant feature lighting.
* Removing unnecessary street furniture such as unused poles, bollards and signage.
* Installing infrastructure for hanging baskets and adding seasonal planting to bring more colour and vibrancy.
* Carrying out a deep clean of the street and clearing Ako drains and surface water connections.
* Upgrading and repainting existing street and highway infrastructure, including Manchester bollards and lamp columns.
* Repainting canopy columns and frames to create a consistent colour palette, subject to agreement from property owners.
* Installing new benches, planters with palms and talking Big Belly bins.
Work is scheduled to begin after the February half-term, with most improvements expected to be completed before the Easter holiday period. The council says disruption to businesses and visitors will be kept to a minimum.
Councillor Chris Lewis, Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth at Torbay Council, said the improvements are “long overdue” and will help bring Paignton’s main visitor street up to the same standard as other waterfront areas in the Bay.
He added that while some residents may not yet see the scale of progress being made, there are currently more active project sites in Paignton than anywhere else in Torbay. He acknowledged that change of this scale can be complex and sometimes disruptive, but said the long-term benefits will be felt by the whole community.
Wider investment in Paignton
Paignton was awarded funding from the Future High Streets Fund in late 2020 to support major infrastructure improvements, deliver new homes and strengthen the town’s cultural offer.
Since then, several major projects have progressed. Restoration of the historic Paignton Picture House is well underway and on track for completion later this year. The Paignton and Preston Waterfront project is currently 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 moving forward, with construction due to begin this autumn.
Funding is also being used to prepare the Victoria Centre site for new homes and future health services. Meanwhile, proposals to enhance Station Square have been paused and will now form part of the wider Paignton Gateway project. This approach will combine a proposed multi-storey car park near the library with transport and access improvements, allowing the work to be delivered in a single phase and reducing disruption.
The community-led Future High Streets programme has acted as a catalyst for the adopted Paignton Town Centre Vision, bringing projects together into a longer-term, joined-up plan designed to better connect key sites and support residents, businesses and visitors alike.
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