Decision – Disposal – Monastery Chapel, Berry Drive, Paignton, TQ3 3RD

1)    Torbay
Council agrees to the sale of the Freehold of Monastery Chapel,
Berry Drive, Paignton, TQ3 3RD to Paignton Monastery CIC for the
sum of £1; and

2)    This
transfer will occur no later than 1^st June
2026.  Should the transfer not occur in
this time, or the purchaser withdraw, Torbay Council will likely
look to dispose of the property by auction.

To
secure long-term future use for this historic building which has
stood vacant for many years.  This sale
provides a community led group the opportunity to provide various
initiatives and support to the local community from a well-located
site with excellent dimensions and potential uses.

The
removal of the reliance on Torbay Council to maintain and monitor
the property freeing up time and resources.  This is a sensitive site and so this provides an
excellent solution for both the public and Torbay Council, without
a third party looking to implement unwelcome changes to the
property.

Disposal by auction was considered but given the nature of the
investment needed to repair and refurbish the building any income
from sale would be low.  The chance to
offer the project to the community, for the good of the public, was
deemed more favourable.

Repairing the Property and retaining as a Torbay Council asset
was deemed unsuitable as the financial outlay would not see any
significant return in the future.

This decision will be
implemented immediately.

The
Monastery Chapel in Paignton is a historic building located in a
residential area.  Built in 1872, it is
not listed and has been deemed surplus to requirements as it has
not been in use since 2017, being currently unoccupied. 

The
Monastery is in very poor condition and as a large historic
building will require significant investment to reach the necessary
standards to facilitate any future use and satisfy safety
requirements.  Estimates currently range
c. £300,000.  The site requires
frequent periodic inspection to maintain and secure the building
and to check for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

The
Cabinet gave a commitment to offer the opportunity to the community
to purchase Paignton Monastery for £1.  To this end, Paignton Monastery CIC has been
formed and have submitted a bid of £1 for the freehold
possession of the Property.  This newly
formed company are a community led initiative looking to
reintegrate the Monastery into community use, principally as a
community centre and hub, offering various uses to the
public.  A Community Use restriction
will apply which will be documented in a restrictive covenant in
the Title.  Paignton Monastery CIC will
raise funding in order to repair the property to allow the future
use.

An
overage provision will apply which will see any uplift in value
from a future sale by Paignton Monastery CIC, or any subsequent
owner, of over £1 being payable to Torbay Council, in
perpetuity.