Business Charter outlining our commitment to businesses that could be impacted by the redevelopment plans.
June 2025
This Business Charter sets out Torbay Council’s (“the Council”) commitment to businesses that may be affected by the proposed redevelopment of parts of The Strand and The Terrace, Torquay.
This Business Charter may be updated as the project progresses.
1.1 The Council and its regeneration partners Milligan and Wilmott Dixon, are intending to deliver a mixed-use redevelopment (“the Scheme”) on a site located on the Strand and The Terrace in Torquay (“the Site”). Work is being carried out with the intention to submit a planning application for the Scheme in autumn 2025. The Site boundary includes the 7-14 The Strand and 43/45/47/55/57/59 The Terrace.
1.2 In order to ensure that the Scheme can be delivered the Council took a report to its Cabinet in November 2024 and its Full Council in December 2024 to obtain approval to in principle use its compulsory purchase powers and to undertake all necessary steps to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). The Council is now preparing to make a CPO, if necessary, later this year or in early 2026.
1.3 The Council has already carried out considerable work to bring forward development on the Site including the acquisition of the former Debenhams store and other properties, and work to prepare a planning application for the Scheme. There remain a number of properties in third party ownership which the Council need to acquire to ensure that the Scheme can be delivered within a reasonable
timeframe. The Council will only use its compulsory purchase powers as a last resort if agreement cannot be reached by negotiation to acquire all the required properties.
1.4 Torbay Council recognises that the use of compulsory purchase powers can be disturbing and = disruptive to businesses and therefore this Business Charter sets out the support that the Council can provide to those impacted throughout the process.
1.5 For further information about the Scheme and the potential CPO, visit the Strand web page.
The Council has also prepared a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Scheme and CPO which can also be viewed at the above website. This has also been sent to owners and occupiers.
2.1 Torbay Council is committed to supporting affected businesses throughout the Scheme’s development. The Council has already begun negotiations with all affected owners and occupiers across the site, to seek to acquire the properties by agreement whilst also seeking to understand the impact of the Scheme on any businesses and their business needs. The Council is available to discuss the support that the Council can provide for any affected business. The support and negotiations will continue throughout the entire process.
3. The Strand and Terrace project team and who to contact
3.1 The key contacts are:
Edward Brown
Development Manager, Torbay Council
Email: Edward.brown@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 07825 832781
3.2 For information about the Scheme please contact the Council’s regeneration partner:
Martin Tresidder
Development Director, Milligan Ltd,
Email: martin@milliganltd.com
Tel: 07733 212 729
3.3 For information about the compulsory purchase process please contact the Council’s compulsory purchase consultants:
Alison Squires
Director, Avison Young
Email: Alison.Squires@avisonyoung.com
Tel: 07774 995 686
4.1 The Council is working with affected businesses to provide support and advice to affected businesses including to see if businesses can be relocated elsewhere within Torquay or the wider area. The key starting point is understanding the needs of the affected businesses. The Council and its team are seeking to understand the business needs and requirements of the businesses.
4.2 Torbay Council and the Project Team recognise that retaining and supporting businesses in Torquay is of significant importance and it is hoped that businesses will benefit from the outputs and regeneration of the Scheme and the wider area. Therefore the Council and the Project Team has and will continue to work with those impacted by the CPO. The support includes:
Further details can also be found on the Torbay Council website, Easylet and RightMove.
5.1 The Council’s Economy Team are working with the Project Team to provide further business support to affected businesses. First stop business support is available through the Economy Team. The team offer ‘Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up’ which is a business support programme funded by UKSPF.
5.2 The support programme provided includes provision for existing businesses and is relevant to businesses impacted by the Scheme and CPO.
A series of workshops will be held covering the following topics:
5.3 In addition to the workshops a tailored 1:1 session can be provided which can help support Recovery Plans for affected businesses. Through these meetings businesses can be signposted to further support and may potentially be able to access small grants. Please contact Edward Brown at the above contact details for further information.
The events for the programme will be listed on Eventbrite.
Enquiries to: EconomyTeam@torbay.gov.uk
6.1 The Council will continue to seek to acquire all businesses by agreement. If a business is affected by the CPO, there may be an entitlement to compensation. The amount of compensation depends on the details of the property interest including the length of occupation, and the nature of the ownership and occupation of the business.
6.2 The Council will follow the rules under the Compensation Code, which is a collection of legislation, case law and best practice governing compensation under compulsory purchase. Compensation under the Compensation Code typically includes:
The application for the Listed Building Consent applicable to Pannier Market is available to view at the following weblink:
https://publicaccess.torbay.gov.uk/view/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=STHHLOQIK0Z00
Details relating to the Torbay Economy and economic assistance can be found at Invest in Torbay.
National Government guidance on compulsory purchase: