Following the Paignton and Preston Seafront Masterplan approved by Cabinet in January 2023, a planning application for the coastal sea defence part of the scheme is now being prepared. There is now an opportunity to view the final plans before they are submitted at the end of September 2023. 

We would like to hear from everyone that uses the seafronts on their thoughts of the final plans for the sea defence part of the scheme. Feedback received from residents and businesses earlier this year has been included.

The feedback received also included that residents struggled to visualise how the scheme will look. This was taken on board and now there are virtual fly throughs. These show visually how the scheme will look on both Paignton and Preston Seafronts

The sea defences, which are part of the wider Masterplan for the area. They are needed on both Paignton and Preston seafronts to protect these areas and the town from rising sea levels over the next 50 years. It has been estimated that the total number of properties at risk of flooding is over 350. By providing defences now this risk can be drastically reduced. 

The Masterplan has been divided into phases and they will be completed when funding is available. £4.6milion has been secured from the Environment Agency, Section 106 contributions, and the Future High Streets Fund for this. 

There are three ways to get involved:

• Online – You can now view the virtual flythroughs for both seafronts, complete the consultation and leave comments. The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 17 September 2023
• LDA Design and Torbay Council will be at the Paignton Club on Thursday 7 September 2023 from 2 pm to 6 pm. Come along, see the plans, the virtual fly throughs and leave your thoughts.
• Paper copies of the consultation will be available in Paignton Library from Thursday 7 September. They will be available from the Council reception desk. Completed consultations will need to be returned to the library by Monday 18 September 2023.

Councillor Chris Lewis, Cabinet Member for Place Services and Economic Growth, said: “The Masterplan for the seafront areas in Paignton and Preston has been developed to ensure we protect and improve the precious open spaces along these seafronts. The most important part of these plans is to protect Paignton town centre from flooding. After extensive consultation, engagement and feedback from the local community, it is now great to see what the final scheme will look like in the flythrough. I urge you now to take a look at these final plans and help to shape the planning application submitted later this month.”

Following this consultation, the feedback will be used to develop the full planning application for the sea defence part. This will be submitted at the end of September 2023 and heard at Planning Committee shortly after.