The Torquay Town Centre Access scheme consists of alterations to the highway network to provide more direct vehicle access into Torquay Town Centre. Previously the route into the town centre from the main highway corridor, the A380, involved diversion via residential streets, whereas the route out of the town centre was direct and passed through a retail/ business area.
The highway alterations include reversing traffic flow, improving junctions, and ensuring pedestrian and cycle priority is enhanced, to improve the accessibility of the Town Centre, connecting the principal access to Torbay (A380) with the centre of Torquay in an efficient and effective manner.
This would result in a better-quality ‘entrance’ to the town, through the shopping district of Torre, also involving a review of the signing and lining which was of poor quality in terms of appearance and actual information provision.
The key objectives of the scheme were to:
- Promote economic growth by improving access to the existing commercial and retail heart of Torquay;
- Improve journey times and trip reliability between Torre Station and Castle Circus including public transport, enhancing use of the Town; and
- Provide good value for money to Torbay Council and tax payers, including improving the sense of arrival to impact positively upon the destination for the “here and now” as well as encourage return trips.
Outputs:
The outputs of the project were to support the delivery of 626 homes in Torquay town centre and the creation/safeguarding of 610 jobs.
Total scheme cost: £0.49m
Growth Deal 1 Funding: £0.29m
Started on site: February 2016
Completion: March 2018
