Multi-million plans to revamp Paignton and Preston seafronts published

Plans to redesign seafront areas, add flood defences and change traffic flows have been put forward

Plans to revamp Paignton and Preston seafronts have been put forward by Torbay Council.

The plans include a complete redesign of the seafront areas, flood defences and changes to traffic flows.

The council said defences would be part of plans to prevent flooding in low-lying areas - it estimated more than 300 properties were at risk.

It said: "We want to create a high-quality coastal defence and enhanced public space."

A decision is likely in the spring, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Funding of £4.6m has been secured from the Environment Agency, with section 106 contributions from local developers and the government's Future High Streets Fund.

The council said residents and stakeholders had helped shape plans for the Paignton and Preston coastal flood protection scheme.

It said: "The initial concept was of a traditional front line concrete sea wall, the scheme has now evolved into a tiered sea defence with enhanced placemaking in the seafront areas."

The council added: "We want to make sure it is fit for the future of Paignton and Preston seafronts."

Torbay Council said residents and stakeholders had helped shaped plans

Plans included major changes to road access and parking on the seafronts, with an enlarged pedestrian area between the Shoreline restaurant and the pier, with no through traffic and car spaces down from 207 to 127.

A flood defence wall and gates will be put in Preston, with a resurfaced lower promenade and a new upper promenade with accessible slopes to the shelters and café.

Spaces will be provided for existing reconditioned shelters, as well as the existing café building on the upper promenade.

There will be new seating, new lighting, a new cycleway, litter bins, lockers and paddleboard storage.

Paignton will also have new flood defences and gates, a resurfaced lower promenade and a new upper promenade with planting terraces.

The current shelters will be relocated to the top of the flood defence embankments, alongside new pedestrian footpaths and crossings, new cycle parking and improved lighting, new litter bins, CCTV columns and outdoor showers.