Work is to start on the first part of an exciting 10-year partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund to make the most of Torbay's heritage.

The ground-breaking Heritage Places scheme aims to inspire communities, boost the local economy and build pride in our area.

The Heritage Fund has confirmed Torbay Council's bid for £250,000 to deliver its Development Year has been successful.

This is the first step of a 10-year process working with local people and organisations to unlock the potential of the Bay's heritage.

The Development Year will also increase the ability of Torbay Council to help deliver the aims of the project.

The Fund announced in October 2023 that Torbay was one of nine areas to share £200m of Heritage Places investment.

Torbay aims to use the money to develop the visitor economy, find new audiences and educate and inspire local people.

Approval of the Development Year plan means new research can start on the economic and social value of Torbay's heritage and culture, and on an updated audience study.

The funding will support three posts in a new Heritage and Design Team at Torbay Council.

The Development Year will see three studies on important conservation areas within the Bay updated - Brixham Town, Paignton Old Town and Torquay Harbour.

This work will allow the public to be more involved and celebrate the heritage assets in these areas.

The third part of this first phase is to update the cultural strategy for Torbay and its communities, called Enjoy, Talk, Do, Be.

The Development Year will lay the foundations for future projects and the partnership with the Heritage Fund.

Cllr Jackie Thomas, Torbay Council's Cabinet member for Tourism, Culture and Events, and Corporate Services, said: "This 10-year partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund allows us to ensure our local heritage across the Bay is more widely recognised, celebrated and supported now and in the future.

"I am delighted that we now have confirmation of funding for the plans we have set out for our Development Year. I look forward to seeing how we use these opportunities to connect the past with the future and ignite people's imaginations.

"We are determined to ensure the wonderful heritage that surrounds us in Torbay inspires the people who live here and our many visitors, and also supports our aims to regenerate our economy in a sustainable way."

The Heritage Places initiative responds to local needs and encourages a holistic approach.

It aims to bring heritage, cultural, community and civic organisations together to combine their knowledge, experience and investment.

Torbay is known as the English Riviera due to its stunning landscape on the South Devon coast and boasts outstanding and recognised historic assets.

It has a designated National Landscape, many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the internationally important English Riviera Global Geopark and exceptional museums and archive collections.