The permanent closure of Victoria multi-storey car park in Paignton will finally go ahead this weekend.
It will shut on Sunday, January 5, at 10pm, and the following day hoarding and fencing will be installed around its perimeter by contractor Wring Group. The demolition will be carried out in three phases, starting with bringing down the main multi-storey car park structure.
Torbay Council is pushing ahead with plans to rejuvenate Paignton town centre, starting with the demolition of Victoria Shopping Centre. During the first phase of the demolition programme, expected to last until mid-April 2025, 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.
The Victoria car park off Garfield Road, Paignton
(Image: Ed Oldfield)
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 connection.”
The Victoria Centre was first identified for redevelopment and improvement in the Paignton Town Centre Masterplan (2015) and formed part of the Council’s successful Future High Streets Fund bid.
Demolition works will take place during the day from Monday to Friday. Noise, dust, and vibration levels will be monitored, and a dust suppression system will be operating.
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. At the end of the first phase of the demolition programme, a new temporary surface level car park will be constructed with spaces released sequentially.
It is anticipated that 100s of these spaces will be available for summer 2025. Details of all off-street and on-street parking in Paignton town centre can be found at: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/parking/