Victoria multi-storey car park in Paignton will close this Sunday, January 5.
At 10 pm on January 5, the car park will officially close as Torbay Council moves forward with its ambitious regeneration plans.
The council is kicking off 2025 by advancing exciting community-led transformational plans aimed at rejuvenating Paignton town centre, beginning with the demolition of the Victoria Centre.
Starting Monday, January 6, contractors from Wring Group will begin installing hoarding and fencing around the perimeter of the multi-storey car park, decommissioning services and utilities, and establishing safe working zones. Demolition machinery will then be brought in to commence the work.
The demolition work will be carried out in three phases, starting with bringing down the main multi-storey car park structure.
During the first phase of the demolition programme, Victoria Square will remain open to the public, including pedestrian access to retailers operating within the Victoria Centre.
However, to accommodate a safe working zone, the pathway from Victoria Square that runs parallel to the railway line to Victoria Park will be closed.
Signage will be in place to safely direct pedestrians to Victoria Park via Garfield Road.
In preparation for the demolition work, the Council has created a new temporary surface-level car park on Hyde Road.
The car park, which opened at the end of November 2024, is open 24 hours a day and offers convenient step-free access to the town centre.
Designated spaces are available for blue badge holders and motorcycles.
Details of all off-street and on-street parking in Paignton town centre can be found at: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/parking/
Cllr Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth at Torbay Council, said: “2025 is the year that the community will really start to see change happening in Paignton town centre.
“The demolition of the Victoria Centre is an important step towards releasing the land for redevelopment and supports our ambition of developing the site for new homes in the town centre with our regeneration partners, Willmott Dixon and Milligan.
“Paignton will remain open for shoppers, visitors, and businesses with plenty of alternative parking spaces in and around the town centre, as well as excellent public transport connections.”
Managing the demolition process
The demolition of large structures is a carefully managed process designed to minimise disruption to the local community.
Demolition work will take place during the day, Monday to Friday. Noise, dust, and vibration levels will be closely monitored, and a dust suppression system will be in operation throughout the process.
Safety fencing has been installed around the site to protect the public. The council has stressed that this fencing should not be tampered with or breached under any circumstances. Local security teams, including CCTV and the police, are aware of the works and will be monitoring the site.
Phase 1 of the demolition programme is expected to last until mid-April 2025. At the conclusion of this phase, a new temporary surface-level car park will be constructed, with spaces being released sequentially. It is anticipated that hundreds of these spaces will be available by summer 2025.
Preparing the site for the future
The Victoria Centre was first identified for redevelopment and improvement in the Paignton Town Centre Masterplan (2015) and was included in the Council’s successful Future High Streets Fund bid.
The demolition of the site is a crucial step toward releasing the land for redevelopment. This project supports the Council’s efforts to advance the site’s development in collaboration with its regeneration partners, Willmott Dixon and Milligan.
Long-term redevelopment plans aim to deliver much-needed housing for local residents, revitalise the area, and attract businesses back into Paignton.
Parking and travel
Approximately 19 reserved parking bays will be available at the former Garfield Road car park site for Reserved Bay permit holders.
Year-round coach parking will also be available on Garfield Road between 10 am and 8 pm, following the conclusion of the advertising of the Traffic Regulation Orders.
Paignton is well served by public transport, with bus and train hubs located in the town centre.
Active travel to Paignton is encouraged, offering significant benefits for health, well-being, and the environment. To locate cycle parking in Paignton, visit: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/bike/