The first stage of work to demolish one of our bay’s biggest eyesores is set to start on Monday (28 November).
On Boxing Day 2020 the Government announced it had awarded £13.36m from the Future High Streets Fund for the transformation of Paignton Town Centre. Projects being supported by this funding include Station Square, Torbay Road, Paignton Picture House, the Victoria Centre, and Paignton and Preston public realm.
Following this support being announced Torbay Council started the compulsory purchase order process to secure ownership of the Crossways Site. This concluded earlier this year and all businesses there have now closed ahead of demolition work starting.
The first stage of work will see the removal of asbestos from the building. This means from Monday 28 November fencing contractors will start to install 160 metres of hoarding around the site, ready for work to start on safely removing asbestos from the building.
The installation of the hoarding will mean there will be no through access for pedestrians between Hyde Road and Torquay Road. It will take around 2-weeks for the contractor to install the hoarding.
Asbestos surveys have already been undertaken, with most of the units already been stripped out of their ‘loose’ fixtures and fittings.
I have also been advised that as internal demolition work starts, the appointment of a building demolition contractor is underway, with the intention to begin full demolition works on the structure in late January 2023. Once full demolition starts on site, works are expected to take approximately 30-weeks.
Planning permission has already been granted for the site to provide approximately 90 extra care and sheltered housing units and commercial space on the ground floor for businesses. They will be available as affordable housing for local resident.
Torbay's MP Kevin Foster, who once worked in a shop at crossways, said: "I am delighted the backing from the Government for the Paignton Future High Streets Fund provided the spur to finally deal with this eyesore. As the demolition works start few residents will shed a tear for the loss of Crossways which has been an eyesore that has blighted Paignton for many years.
Regenerating this site will not only provide much needed housing, but also give the whole of Paignton Town Centre a lift."
