Phase One of the restoration programme is being funded through approximately £8 million of UK Government investment, supplemented by £1 million from Torbay Council. Additional funding and private-sector partnerships will be sought to support future phases of the project.

Alongside the physical restoration works, a comprehensive Masterplan and Conservation Management Strategy have been developed to guide the long-term conservation, management and sustainable future use of the estate.

Torbay Council has started a multiTorbay Council has embarked on a major multi-phase restoration programme to safeguard and conserve the historic Oldway Mansion. Following its closure as council offices in 2013, the building remained vacant and suffered significant deterioration. As a result, it was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to protect this Grade II* listed landmark.

The complete restoration of Oldway Mansion is expected to be a multi-year, multi-million-pound project, with estimated costs exceeding £50 million. Future phases will include the conservation of the mansion, its associated buildings and the historic gardens, while creating opportunities for community activities, weddings, events, visitor attractions and other complementary uses.

For safety reasons, the mansion remains closed to the public during the restoration works.

The gardens continue to be maintained by us, the self-funding Oldway Garden Volunteers and remain open for the community to enjoy.

Extensive scaffolding has been erected around the mansion to provide safe access for specialist repair works and to protect the historic fabric of the building throughout the restoration process.

The primary objective of the first phase is to make the building wind and watertight through the repair and restoration of its complex roof structures. Oldway Mansion features approximately twelve different roof types, making this a substantial and highly specialised undertaking. These works are expected to continue until at least late 2027.

Specialist conservation teams are also carrying out repairs to key structural elements, including the dormers and roof coverings of the West Tower, following deterioration identified during detailed condition surveys.

Within the mansion, vulnerable historic features such as marble staircases, decorative finishes and architectural details have been carefully protected using temporary screening and boarding. Historic artefacts have also been removed and placed into secure storage to ensure their preservation.