AMBITIOUS plans for a once-in-a-generation’ transformation of Torquay’s town centre are likely to get the go-ahead next week.

Members of Torbay Council’s planning committee meet next Monday (September 15) to decide on multi-million-pound proposals to knock down the Union Square shopping centre and parts of the town’s historic market.

Up in their place could go nearly 100 new homes along with new businesses and a public square. The aim is to revitalise the ailing town centre in the biggest project of its kind since the building of the Fleet Walk shopping centre in the 1980s.

The proposals to transform the town centre market have been described as ‘poor’ by local heritage guardians.

But planning committee members are being advised by their officers to approve the plans for the shopping centre and the market.

Of 18 comments received by the council in response to the market plans, 13 are letters of objection from the Torbay Heritage Trust and the other five are from local people who support the plans.

Developers Willmott Dixon Construction want to knock down the south and west elevations of the Pannier Market and remove internal fixtures. New arched openings and doors would be built.

The market was built in 1852 and was altered in 1865 to incorporate shops. It has Grade Two listed status.

Supporters say the work will remove an eyesore while providing new homes and facilities, but the heritage trust says the developers have no serious interest in protecting and enhancing the historic site.

Planning officers have asked for more information about the work, but say the project is acceptable, subject to a number of stringent conditions including the retention of any hidden historic features uncovered during the work.

At the same meeting councillors will be advised to say yes to the partial demolition of the Union Square shopping centre along with the demolition of nine shops fronting on to Union Street and Market Street.

In this case Willmott Dixon want to knock down some of the modern additions to the Pannier Market. Redevelopment of the site will include 99 homes, amenity and business spaces, along with the existing multi-storey car park.

A public square will also be part of the proposals.

A handful of retailers remain within the shopping centre which was bought by Torbay Council in 2022.

The Torquay Neighbourhood Forum strongly supports the principle of the development which it says will keep the town centre ‘prosperous and sustainable’.

Six comments from the public have been received, all of them objections.

One objector writes: “The proposed new buildings are laughably bad, ugly and far too large. Keeping the insanely ugly multi-storey is also a dated concept.

“Torquay has many terrible examples of modern architecture which sit uncomfortably with the gracious older buildings. This horrible huge new building in ugly inappropriate materials takes us back to a past we want to escape from.”

When the project was first unveiled to the public almost a year ago, Torbay Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said he hoped it would be a catalyst to bring in more investment.

He said: “This really is a once-in-a-generational opportunity for Torbay, and we hope the community share our enthusiasm and excitement for the changes.”

And deputy leader Chris Lewis (Con Preston) added: “People in Torbay are desperate to see change. When people come back to see the bay in 10 years time, they won’t recognise the place.”