A huge high street chain has officially vacated one of Torquay's biggest shop fronts.
The 10,0000sq ft H&M store on Union Street - a former Woolworth's - is one of the high street's landmark buildings.
It has now been boarded up and is up for rent,
The retail unit is advertised as being available to continue in a similar use, or being suitable for more general retail uses.
News last year that the town was set to lose yet another major name came on the same day that Torbay Council announced it has for an undisclosed sum to help regenerate the town.
H&M recently told Devon Live it had approached the end of its lease agreement.
During the past five years more than £150million of potential rates income has been lost due to empty premises – and that is just in the region’s major towns and cities.
The whole of Cornwall saw £16.4million lost over five years, ahead of Bath and North East Somerset’s £15million, Plymouth’s £13.5million, Exeter’s £10million, Gloucester’s £9.8million., Bournemouth’s £9.4million, and £5.9million in Torbay.
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Cabinet member for economic regeneration, tourism and housing, Cllr Swithin Long, said: “We recognise that Torquay High Street needs to evolve. The Council’s Transformation Strategy for Torbay’s Town Centres promotes residential led regeneration of Union Street, to encourage more people to live in the town centre, promote greater footfall and spend, and to provide a better experience for visitors.
"At the end of last year, we were invited to bid for a Town Deal for Torquay, as part of the Towns Fund, which aims to help towns transform economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture.
“Regarding H&M, the council and TDA have been working with the owner’s agents on this issue. We know there is little more that the owner could have reasonably done to keep the store in Union Street and the situation is reflective of how high streets are evolving nationally. The Council and TDA will continue to work with the property owner about future uses of the building.”
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