Former popular Paignton seafront pub the Inn on the Green could be demolished to create a private car park for neighbouring hotels and an additional one for public use.
Hotel and property developer the Fragrance Group confirmed in September it had bought the pub on the Esplanade and said it was looking at ‘potential options’ for its future. A planning application has now been submitted to Torbay Council seeking permission to demolish the existing buildings on the ‘run down pub’ site and replace it with a new single-level car park for hotel patrons and provide ‘much needed’ public car parking.
A private western car park for the Ibis and Mercure hotels will have 32 spaces. The eastern public pay and display car park will offer 98 spaces, inclusive of five disabled parking spaces.
The applicant said: “This parking area is intended to alleviate the demand for parking in the town, particularly during peak tourist seasons, and enhance accessibility to Paignton’s seafront and town centre. Its strategic position near the beach and high street will encourage greater footfall and support local businesses while addressing long-standing issues related to parking congestion.”
The Inn on the Green in Paignton
(Image: KTA Architects)
In its transport and parking statement, it added: “The site currently comprises of the Inn in the Green pub/ restaurant which has been vacant for many years. The building is considered to be in disrepair and therefore the site would benefit from redevelopment.”
It continued: “The car park associated with the hotels are proposed due to the under provision of car parking as part of the hotel development, and the requirement for the overspill to be accommodated in surrounding on and off-street parking areas. Therefore, the proposals are to help meet the demand and operational requirements of the hotels.
“Additionally, there has been/ will be a significant loss to parking within the town, and therefore the proposals for the public car park will help to meet the demand of tourism in the local area.”
The proposed car parks on the Inn on the Green site in Paignton
(Image: KTA Architects)
So far, the application has received four public objections. A Paignton resident said: “Homogenising historic Paignton seafront with architectural eyesores such as a carpark, or the massive hotels that now exist, will eventually destroy the town completely and we will lose tourism.
“People do not visit the area for a British Magaluf but for its historic beauty. Car parks, massively oppressive hotels and cinemas do not belong on a seafront destroying the area visually. But inland and carparks can be underground. Extremely short-sighted.
“That bar could be renovated to be a fantastic centre piece with bar overlooking the sea. It just needs someone with some imagination and sensitivity to architectural surroundings.”
Another local resident said: “This is a beautiful historic building; it should not be knocked down, it should be restored. The hotels that were built should have considered parking at the time they are in planning process.
“It is one of a few original buildings left from the Victorian days, and should not be demolished. It will have a massive impact on the view of The Esplanade.
“The loss of jobs as a result of this pub being closed is bad for an area that needs out of season jobs. The building would make a lovely hotel and bar as it once was, creating more jobs than a car park can.”
The Inn on the Green is the fourth building on Paignton seafront to join the Singapore-based Fragrance Group’s portfolio which includes the Marine Hotel, bought in 2022, and the former Park Hotel and neighbouring Lighthouse nightclub, now transformed into Mercure and Ibis Styles hotels respectively.
To view the planning application, please click here.