Greendale Completes Purchase of Occombe Farm
Greendale has announced its purchase of Occombe Farm from Torbay Council, along with land north of Preston Down Road, Paignton. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this much-loved site.
Working with strategic partners, Greendale plans to make a significant phased investment in the site over the coming years. In the short term, this will include reopening some of Occombe’s most popular features, including the farm kitchen, play barn and nature trail.
These facilities will be operated by local leisure specialists Thomas Shwenn and his team, who have strong ties to the Bay and a deep understanding of Occombe. Looking ahead, Greendale plans to create new retail and leisure facilities, helping to attract more visitors to the area and further boost the local economy.
Rowan Carter, Chief Executive of Greendale Group, said: “We look forward to restoring Occombe Farm to its former place at the heart of the Torbay community. Greendale will work closely with local specialists to deliver a site that Torbay can be proud of. We’re also delighted that familiar faces will be returning, with the farm kitchen and play barn staffed by former Occombe employees.
"We are excited to develop this partnership and are confident that Tom Shwenn and his team will deliver the Occombe Farm family experience that so many people remember fondly."
Thomas Shwenn said: "I'm extremely excited to be taking on the operation of Occombe Farm and to have the opportunity to bring this incredible site back to life. We have a long-term vision for Occombe that will see it become one of the South West's leading family destinations, while staying true to what has always made it so special.
"Knowing what an amazing place Occombe is, and how much it has meant to generations of local families, is something I'm incredibly passionate about. Our aim is to bring that back while investing in the future and creating a destination that benefits the whole local community.
"We know there is a huge amount of work ahead of us, so we ask the people of Torbay to bear with us as we bring that vision to life. In return, we will do everything we can to reward their patience by creating a destination that they can once again be proud to call their own."
