Strand Champions

28/09/2026

Good evening

You may have heard that Torbay Council, in all its infinite wisdom, has just given outline planning permission to demolish most of the Strand, all the historic canopies and two Georgian cottages that survived the Napoleonic plus two World Wars. The planned replacement? Yet another oversized hotel 🥱

We knew from 2023 that this was a foregone conclusion. It was obvious. We've been biding our time ever since until this moment came. Now the outline permission is granted, we've been taking legal advice given how damaging the proposed scheme is to the Conservation Area and surrounding heritage.

Clearly, the site is in a terrible state - that's what happens when you board up buildings and leave them to rot. It's the same old story and we've seen it all before - Fleet Street/Torwood Steet, anyone?

Depending on the advice given, we may be in need of considerable public support to successfully challenge the forthcoming. Let us know if you'd be on board.

16/01/2023

Some photographs of a beautiful building in Fremantle in Perth, Western Australia proving that incorporating original cast iron friezes and panels into renovated buildings is both possible and fabulous.

26/04/2022

Torbay Council you gave us your word. You told us you would listen. But you're putting a canopy-free proposal out to a measly 5-hour public consultation this Thursday. You've messed up big time. Wake up and start listening.

26/04/2022

26/04/2022

Here are the plans for Debenhams.

They're trying to tell us that "original iron work and Victorian details from the canopies will influence the railings and balustrades in the new buildings" - but this is clearly BS. We made it really crystal clear that while keeping the original buildings was not essential, keeping the Victorian canopy was. It's not a question of 'influencing' details in the building, but a question of not losing the original canopy in the first place. There is more work to be done on these plans before they go ahead.

Link to exhibiton event: https://www.facebook.com/events/408279610743877

'We are determined to ensure that Torquay will achieve its economic potential by creating better spaces, with more people living and working there'