A new hotel will be built on the harbourside at Torquay after councillors approved a £75m development that supporters say will bring the resort back to its glory days.
"This is a first class proposal for a high-quality hotel," said Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton). "Any negative impacts are outweighed by the real and compelling economic benefits. This is just the sort of proposal that should be going on that site."
One objector described the design as "monotonous", but Cllr Anna Tolchard (Con, St Peters with St Marys) told members of the Torbay Council planning committee: "This is exactly what we need to get Torquay back to its glory days."
The plans to transform the derelict Debenhams store on the Strand were passed after a three-hour meeting. The £75m hotel development will replace an eyesore block that has been derelict for more than five years.
The plan is for a 150-bedroom hotel on the site currently occupied by the derelict department store, which closed in 2021. The old store will be demolished to make way.
Torbay Council will work with a developer and a hotel firm to deliver the project. Cllr Nick Bye (Con, Wellswood) described it as a "game-changer" for the bay and its tourism and hospitality industry.
The plans show a six-storey hotel with a rooftop bar. Several objections have focused on the height of the building.
Jonty Williams of the Torbay Civic Society said the design was "monotonous and unrelenting". "Torquay is crying out for a genuine luxury hotel but this proposal is mediocre," he said. "It makes no meaningful attempt to blend into, let alone enhance, our once-celebrated environment."
Objector Margaret Forbes-Hamilton said the design should be sent back to the drawing board. Rodney Horder of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum said the height of the hotel would harm the area around it. The rooftop bar, he said, was "totally incongruous" and would have an impact on people living nearby.
Cllr Cordelia Law (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said introducing a nationwide chain hotel would be "economic vandalism". Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) said the new hotel would take vital trade away from local businesses.
But Cllr Bye said the hotel was an "elegant" design that would create jobs and would fit Torbay's ambitions to be the country's premier resort. Referencing the popular Seventies TV sitcom Are You Being Served, he added: "This is a derelict department store. Mrs Slocombe and her cast are not going to arrive over the horizon to reopen it."
Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said the decision boiled down to whether the economic benefits outweighed the conversation concerns, and he was not convinced of the benefits.
Cllr Andrew Strang (Con, Furzeham with Summercombe) said the planned steps through the centre of the site linking the Strand to the Terrace were an "absolute gem". Cllr Ras Virdee (Lib Dem, St Marychurch) said the current buildings were a "bombsite" that needed to be redeveloped.
Cllr Mandy Darling (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said she was concerned at the loss of heritage buildings and warned: "Once it's gone, it's gone."
Summing up, chairman Cllr Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary) said the scheme was "massively important" for Torbay. "I whole-heartedly commend it," he added.
The committee voted by six votes to none in favour of the scheme, with two councillors abstaining.
The council says the hotel is part of a major regeneration of the waterfront area, which also includes the Pavilion refurbishment. The design, it says, is fitting and deliverable.
Council Approves £75m Torquay Harbour Hotel