Renewed activity at Tavistock’s ‘hole in the high street’ have raised hopes that long-awaited shops could be about to rise from the rubble.

New groundworks activity has been taking place on the site between Brook Street and Market Road.

Posts have also been erected on Duke Street in front of the site hoardings, which suggests the hoarding will be moved outwards towards Duke Street.

A mini-excavator and earth flattening roller have been clearing the ground of rubble after trenches were dug and refilled.

The former Woolworths site, dubbed the ‘hole in the high street’, has been much criticised in the last few years as a blot on the landscape in the otherwise busy and popular shopping street.

A couple living on Dolvin Road, across the River Tavy from Market Road, have been calling for something to be clear up the site where rubble has accumulated.

They said the site detracted from the town centre and there was a potential loss of business rates income with the site remaining unoccupied.

The couple have written to Tavistock MP Sir Geoffrey Cox and their West Devon borough councillor, suggesting enforcement action be taken against the landowner for allowing the dumping of non-permitted materials. They also called for the Market Road side to be screened.

Planning permission was granted to Taunton Land in 2019 for the site to be developed for retail use.

John Sloman, of Taunton Land, declined to comment this week on the renewed activity.

In September 2025 he said: “We will be starting to build a retail outlet at 51-55 Brook Street from the spring (2026).”

At the time he also explained the delay in development was caused by waiting for the right to alter the existing building occupied by the adjacent Superdrug store on 53-55 Brook Street. He would not identify businesses potentially occupying any new buildings.

Taunton Land has been improving drainage on the site to enable works.

There is new hope that a new shop will rise from the rubble of a Tavistock high street demolition site. Pictured is a newly erected re-sited hoarding across the 'hole in the high street' on Brook Street.
There is new hope that a new shop will rise from the rubble of a Tavistock high street demolition site. Pictured is a newly erected re-sited hoarding across the 'hole in the high street' on Brook Street. (Iliffe Media)
There is new speculation a Tavistock high street eyesore demolition site will rise from the rubble with a new shop. Pictured is a newly erected re-sited hoarding on Brook Street.
There is new speculation a Tavistock high street eyesore demolition site will rise from the rubble with a new shop. Pictured is a newly erected re-sited hoarding on Brook Street. (Iliffe Media)
New activity on Tavistock's so-called 'hole in the high street' site has started guesswork about possible building work.
New activity on Tavistock's so-called 'hole in the high street' site has prompted guesswork about possible building work. (Iliffe Media)