CAMPAIGNERS fighting to turn a former monastery into a community centre have been offered the chance to make their dreams come true – for just £1.

Torbay Council today announced a proposal to support the campaign by offering the building in Paignton’s Berry Drive to locals for less than the price of a coffee. The Marist Order paid £6,000 for it when it was new in 1881.

The monastery, which has also seen use as a social club and a food bank since the monks left town 50 years ago, has been on a list of up-for-sale council assets since 2019.

It was offered to the community then, but there were no takers.

In recent months Liberal Democrat councillors Cat Johns and Margaret Douglas-Dunbar, both of whom represent the Clifton with Maidenway ward in which the monastery sits, have led a fresh campaign to take it on.

They say the ward has no community centre, and the former home of the Marist Fathers would be ideal for the purpose.

The council says surplus assets which are no longer needed are identified for disposal, which helps pay for reinvestment elsewhere.

The community can have it for £1, but must form a legal ‘entity’ to do so, and must do a deal by the end of March 2026.

Only community-based operations will be permitted, and if its use changes and its value increases, any ‘uplift’ will go back to the council – a so-called ‘overage’ clause.

The council says the new proposal gives the community every opportunity to bring the monastery back into beneficial use, while relieving the council of future maintenance liabilities.

Cllr Jackie Thomas (Con, Kings Ash), who is the cabinet member for events, tourism, culture and corporate services, said: “We are creating a real opportunity for residents to take ownership of a historic site and bring it back into beneficial use. This proposal balances our duty to manage council assets responsibly with our ambition to empower local people, ensuring the building remains dedicated to community purposes while protecting the public purse through safeguards such as a restrictive covenant and overage clause.

“I am encouraged by the enthusiasm already shown and look forward to seeing how the community can transform the Old Monastery into a vibrant hub that serves local needs.”

The next stage will be for locals to form a community group to engage with the Town Hall.