Torbay Council has begun a compulsory purchase order on the dilapidated Crossways shopping centre in Paignton.
The site, owned by hotels and hospitality magnate Roger Hancox, has been in decline for many years.
Now, the local authority has plans to regenerate the site, including 90 extra care and sheltered affordable housing with commercial space retained on the ground floor for businesses.
Leader of Torbay Council, Cllr Steve Darling, said: “We are delighted to have been able to take this decisive action, through the compulsory purchase order, to deal with this site which desperately needs an upgrade.
"Residents in Paignton have been asking us to take control of this site and improve it for quite some time, and this supports our Town Centre Masterplan and the Paignton Neighbourhood Plan.”
The CPO was made at the end of August and notices were served on Wednesday September 16 with a two week notice period.
The site is owned by Gaelic Investments Partnership, part of a multi-million business empire operated by entrepreneur Roger Hancox, based in the West Midlands.
As director of Inter Rested Ltd, he is at the helm of a multi-million portfolio of luxury hotels across the UK and via the company Broomco (4204) Ltd, is the major shareholder in Gaelic Investments - the company that bought Crossways in November 2009.
When Gaelic Investments bought Crossways, the transaction was veiled in secrecy, reported the Herald Express.
It trumped a £1.2million offer by Torbay Council to successfully buy the shopping centre.
At the time, the then deputy mayor Chris Lewis, said: “What we don’t want is somebody buying the site and sitting on it.
“We’ve got plans for Paignton, and we would like for everyone to work together for the town’s regeneration.”
Ten years on in September 2019, Torbay Council agreed to purchase the site, following requests from local residents to do something with the site.
And a planning application has been approved by the preferred developer TorVista Homes, a company set up by the council to bring forward social housing schemes.
Extra care housing is also known as assisted living and residents will have their own self-contained flats but with staff available to provide personal care and support services.
Councillor Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing for Torbay Council, said: “We are really excited to be able to make progress on these plans which will provide a much needed boost to this area of Paignton by developing the land as an attractive retail, residential and employment space.”
Deputy Leader Councillor Darren Cowell said: “It is the perfect location for the extra care housing because the site is close to a range of facilities and has good public transport links.
“The new accommodation will also provide additional footfall in the town centre.”
