View our plans to protect Paignton and Preston seafronts with coastal defences, including improving public spaces.
We have appointed our preferred developer for the Paignton and Preston Promenade scheme. Knights Brown will carry out the construction of the coastal flood defences and public space improvements.
Once completed, the coastal flood defences and improved public spaces will protect local properties and businesses and will attract more people to the area. The scheme will deliver long term benefits for all to enjoy, securing the future of Paignton and Preston.
Construction of a scheme of this size will take time and is likely to include some disruption. Our intention is to minimise the impact on local tourism, businesses and people who regularly use the seafront areas. We’ll do this by keeping sections of the seafronts accessible as development progresses.
We also want to safeguard the events that take place on Paignton and Preston Greens. Whilst there may be some impact during construction, plans will be made to ensure that businesses can continue to trade, and events, including the council’s own, can still go ahead.
We have agreed construction phasing to commence in late September of this year. The timing has been agreed following consultation with local stakeholders and the developer.
Our construction timings will allow a clear summer season in 2025 before the main development starts.
We are working behind the scenes to confirm the development phase timing to keep disruption to a minimum. We will send out updates as soon as any new information becomes available.
We have had many conversations with beach hut users and understand local concern around the disruption the development will cause.
Development areas will be subject to disturbance from noise and dust. Strict Health and Safety restrictions will be in place and access to the beach will be restricted to certain areas. These issues mean that Preston Sands beach huts will need to be removed at least one week before 30 September 2025. Following removal, no beach huts will be available for the 2026 season.
We understand that this will be disappointing to beach hut users and have not made the decision lightly. The scheme is however essential to protect the long-term future and enjoyment of Preston Sands. We appreciate peoples’ patience as we make these improvements to the area.
The planning application for the Coastal Flood Protection Scheme was granted permission at the Planning Committee meeting held on 24 June 2024.
The scheme as approved was informed by multiple rounds of stakeholder and public engagement activity. These took place between 2021 and 2023.
The initial concept was of a traditional front line concrete sea wall. The scheme has now evolved into a tiered sea defence with enhanced placemaking in the seafront areas. This transition has been informed by consultation feedback from residents and stakeholders.
The development will provide high-quality coastal defences with enhanced public spaces, essential to protect the future of Paignton and Preston seafronts, residential properties, businesses and the town centre.
As a reminder, the Masterplan includes the sea defences that both Paignton and Preston seafronts need. This is to protect these areas from rising sea levels over the next 50 years. Estimates show that over the next 50 years over 350 properties are at risk of flooding due to climate change. By providing defences now, this risk can be drastically reduced.
We want to protect and improve the precious open spaces along the seafront. This is why we have developed the masterplan for the seafronts in Paignton and Preston. The plan also looks at creating a happy, healthy and vibrant place. We want to celebrate the special qualities of our seafront areas.
We have divided the plan into phases. Subject to approval, we will develop these over a number of years. This will be as and when funding is available. The first projects delivered will be the sea defence elements. For this part we have secured £4.6milion from:
We commissioned LDA Design to run the public engagement on the masterplan. Together, we want to:
We have worked on this with communities and local stakeholders. We want to develop a once in a lifetime plan to improve our seafronts and protect the town.
During this phase, all interested parties could give feedback on the plan before we sent it to the Local Planning Authority.
We held an in-person event on 7 September 2023 with over 60 people in attendance. This was as well as Social Media posts promoting the online consultation,
The scheme as submitted is the culmination of three years design evolution. This has been informed by extensive consultation with:
They have taken the opportunity to influence the scheme and provide valued input. We have listened to consultation feedback. Where appropriate to enhance the scheme, we integrated changes into the final application.
The planning application will be subject to a statutory period of consultation. This will be the last chance to comment on the proposed development. It will be the last chance to influence the submitted scheme.
Find out more about The Consultation Process.