Press release issued by KOR Communications on behalf of YG developments.

Plans to restore Torquay’s Pavilion, a Grade II Listed building, have taken a step forward following the submission of an application for Listed Building Consent to Torbay Council this week (Friday 15 October 2021) which will enable vital survey work to take place.  

The application, lodged by MDL Marinas who lease the Pavilion from Torbay Council, proposes scaffolding and a temporary roof to be placed over the historic 1912 building to allow for detailed structural survey work to be carried out.

The temporary roof will protect the building from further deterioration ahead of winter whilst the scaffolding will allow a surveyor to assess the extent of repairs required to stabilise and eventually restore the Pavilion. Security hoardings are also expected to be put up around the site.

In March this year, Torbay Council’s Cabinet agreed to jointly fund, with YG Developments (sister company to MDL Marinas), a comprehensive study of the condition of the empty building and a costed repair plan.

The application to Torbay Council, in its statutory role as planning authority, follows an initial six-week assessment of the building which was completed by specialist listed building surveyor Dr Duncan Philips this summer.

Dr Philips explained: “With Listed Building Consent, we will be able to ‘open-up’ the building and carefully dismantle parts of it to assess the extent of corrosion and damage.

“The results from this work will enable us to produce designs for subsequent repairs, which will also be subject to a planning application.  Ultimately, we are working towards bringing the building back into use for the long-term.”  

Kristi Roger, director of YG Developments, said: “We are working closely with Dr Philips, MDL and Torbay Council to secure the future of the Pavilion which will eventually form part of a wider regeneration of Torquay’s waterfront.  

“It is not yet known what the Pavilion might be used for, but this is a significant step in preparing to safeguard its future.”

Cllr Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said; “The Pavilion is one of Torbay’s most loved and iconic buildings. Together with TDA and MDL we are passionate about developing a scheme to fully restore the Pavilion. These initial surveys are the first steps in moving the restoration project forward to get the Pavilion back into a condition where it can once again be developed into a harbourside attraction.

“There is still a long way to go in terms of deciding on the future of the Pavilion which the local community will be consulted upon. But we hope this works signal that things are moving in the right direction.”