A £100,000 plan to improve Torquay's Fleet Walk Shopping Centre is underway.
Torbay Council bought the freehold of Fleet Walk Shopping Centre in autumn 2019 as part of its plans to regenerate Torbay’s town centres and help boost the local economy.
Now, it is investing in a series of work including redecoration of the first floor Gallery and toilets, new Winter Gardens festoon lighting and Christmas LED lighting, parking bay re-lining in the multi-storey car park and new feature planting.
The shopping centre is occupied by high street names including TK Maxx, Sports Direct, Deichmann, Trespass, as well as a wide range of independent outlets.
Torquay is seeing increasing levels of private sector investment into its town centre with national well-known chains such as Hilton, Boston Tea Party and Taco Bell opening new branches, bringing all year-round employment.
Cllr Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing for Torbay Council, said: “It’s been more than 12-years since some areas of Fleet Walk were last decorated. Our investment will go towards improving the look of one of the most visible parts of Torquay’s town centre which is home to a wide variety of both independent and national outlets.
“We want Torbay to be a ‘premier resort’, that means supporting and boosting our local economy where we can. Not only by making visual improvements and creating welcoming and enjoyable spaces, but by attracting more inward public and private sector investment to give Torbay’s economy a much-needed boost.”
Fleet Walk is one area of Torquay’s Town Investment Plan that’s set to benefit from enhancements this year. More than £2million of improvements to the Strand are set to begin in the spring after more than £21million was secured from the Towns Fund.
The Strand work will minimise traffic, enhance pedestrian areas and create a new public transport hub.
The investment from the Council, complements more than £340,000 of funding Torbay received as part of the governments Reopening High Streets Safely Fund and the Welcome Back Fund to help high streets respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elsewhere, £4million of Getting Building Funding is being used to support the development of new business space at Edginswell and Lymington Road. The space at Edginswell has already attracted DIY giant Wickes and BOWA MEDICAL UK, both of which offer new employment and training opportunities.
Work on the Lymington Road site is due to start in the spring.
