We are disappointed that the Fragrance Group’s plans for the former Palace Hotel site in Babbacombe Road, Torquay, no longer include plans for a hotel.

The site has been empty since 2017 and in 2019, the Fragrance Group submitted an application to redevelop the site with a new five-star 248 bed hotel with spa/conference facilities and parking, as well as building 38 homes on the site of the current indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Those new homes were not reliant on the hotel being constructed.

The Fragrance Group are revising their plans because they have said that the original hotel proposal is “no longer economically viable” and as a consequence they are now developing an alternative proposal for a further 67 homes on the former hotel site and remainder of the developable site to the south of Anstey’s Cove Road. They recently gave a presentation to the Council about the challenges they faced, after first approaching us.

David Edmondson, Divisional Director of Planning, Housing, and Climate Emergency, said: “In order to vary the current planning permission, the Council, through its Planning Committee, will need to receive validated evidence of non-viability of the original hotel proposal. The Planning Committee will consider the same when considering any changes to the original application, as well as all relevant planning policies, including the Local Plan and Torquay Neighbourhood Plan.

“Nothing will happen to the area of the site to the south of Anstey’s Cove Road before revised planning permission is granted. However, it should be noted that the 38 properties that already have planning permission (on the tennis court to the north of Anstey’s Cove Road) will continue to be built as per the original permission.”