Plans lodged to demolish Paignton church for new flats

A disused Paignton church could be bulldozed to make way for flats for over-55s.

Local firm Boniface Developments (Paignton) wants to knock down St Boniface Church in Belfield Road to make way for its 25-flat proposal.

Built in the 1960s as a block-and-brick flat-roofed chapel, it was sold in 2024 with a guide price up to £350,000. It was first built to serve the densely-populated Foxhole area.

It was running up until 2022 as a combined church and community centre with a varied programme of community activities.

The application says: “The existing 1960s building makes a limited contribution to the surrounding built environment. This presents a valuable opportunity to introduce an architectural design that enhances and complements its setting.

“The proposed building offers an opportunity to make the most of the remarkable views out to Paignton beach and the sea. It supports the government’s target for Torbay to deliver 720 new homes annually, while making effective use of a previously vacant site.”

The planned flats have been re-designed after initial discussions with Torbay Council planning officers raised a number of areas for concern. If approved, all of the flats will be single-bedroom.

The developer is also the vicarage next door, which ‘offers potential for multiple residential units’. Negotiations are currently under way for the purchase of the vicarage site, and a separate application for that site may follow.

Other applications recently lodged with Torbay Council include:

Change of use from non commercial equestrian use to commercial leisure use for two shepherd huts – 15 Wayside, Brixham.

Installation of photovoltaic panels on garage – Vane Tower, 11 Vane Hill Road, Torquay.

Construction of single storey extension to side – The Firs, Brakeridge Close, Brixham.

Variation of condition in relation to P/2023/0521 (Change of use of existing car sales garage and workshop (sui generis) to form 2 no. Class E commercial units and workshop, external alterations to building including new walls, glazing and shopfronts, parking area and associated works.): Condition P1 – (approved plans). Variation sought: amend plans to reflect removal of canopy – Hyde Park Corner Garage, Hyde Road, Paignton.

Non-material amendment relating to P/2023/0909. Amendments sought: include glazed canopy to East elevation, amend rooflight and solar panels on roof slope to East, fenestration to West elevation and window to North elevation – Land Adjacent To 20 Dart View Road, Galmpton.

Loft conversion with dormer to rear and inset balcony to front, enlargement of patios to front and rear with an additional patio to rear with installation of glass balustrades and installation of summer house to rear – Portland House, Rock End Avenue, Torquay.

Installation of X 5 A/C condensers, associated cable trays and acoustic enclosure. Installation of insulation and associated works – Sherwell Valley Primary School, Hawkins Avenue, Torquay.

Demolish existing rear porch conservatory. Formation of a single storey rear extension with open balcony above (3.4m wide x 3.0m deep) including 1.7m opaque privacy screen on neighbour boundary (SW Elevation) and clear glass balustrade. Formation of French doors on first floor rear elevation to provide access on to aforementioned new open balcony. Formation of raised terrace off new ground floor rear extension alongside neighbour boundary with 1.7m privacy screen to side (SW elevation) Formation of roof over existing “alfresco area” alongside the existing detached garage. Formation of raised terrace adjacent to this aforementioned area – 89 Barnfield Road, Paignton.

Demolition of existing buildings and construction of three dwellings and detached carport with associated landscaping, infrastructure and works – Land Adj Keepers Cottage, Alston Lane, Brixham.

Deconstruction of roof to the West Tower to enable stabilisation works. Reinstatement and restoration works including new structural elements and dormer – Oldway Mansion, Oldway Road, Paignton.

Change of use from guest house to dwelling – St Edmunds Hotel, 25 Sands Road, Paignton.