Plans lodged to partially demolish shopping centre

The Union Square shopping centre will be partially demolished if the plans are approved

Planning permission is being sought to partially demolish a shopping centre in Torquay.

Nine shops at the Union Square shopping centre are to be demolished if permission is granted by Torbay Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The plans were submitted by the council's development partner, Willmott Dixon, which is planning wider improvements to the town centre.

The redevelopment would be biggest project of its kind in the resort town since the demolition of the old Fleet Street for the Fleet Walk shopping centre in the 1980s, said the local authority.

The project has already been allocated £11m of government funding, with further public and private sector investment anticipated.

When complete, the scheme will see the construction of town centre apartments mixed with shops, restaurants and offices along with a GP surgery.

The town's historic pannier market will also be redeveloped, according to the plans.