Decision due on plans to convert former Pulse nightclub in Hartlepool into gin bar, student gallery and coffee shop, and five apartments

Proposals were provisionally passed in April last year to convert the former Pulse in Church Street into a gin bar, student gallery and coffee shop, and five apartments.

However this was subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement to secure financial developer contributions to the council to go towards green infrastructure and sports facilities, totalling just under £4,000.

Since that meeting, the applicant, Mr T Bates, has not progressed the legal agreement necessary to allow the application to be fully approved and planning permission issued, according to the Hartlepool Borough Council planning report.

Therefore the plans, which will take up 25 and 26 Church Street, along with the upper floors of 27, will now go before the planning committee again on Wednesday without the financial obligations.

A report from senior council planning officer Laura Chambers still recommends the plans are approved, adding the regeneration of the site would benefit the area.

It said: “Planning obligations would typically be required for developments of this nature.

“However…the application will not secure such obligations in this instance.

“When considering this in the overall planning balance, taking into account the identified regeneration benefits of the scheme, it is considered that this would outweigh any such requirements in this instance.”

A change of use is sought by the applicant to sub-divide the bar on the ground floor into separate units for the gin bar and student gallery/coffee shop.

Five residential apartments would then be supplied on the upper floors.

The premises is identified as a ‘key building’ within the council’s Church Street conservation area.

A design and access statement from planning agents Davis Planning Partnership stated how the development would benefit the area.

It said: “There is a close relationship between the proposed uses and the student and young person population in the town and the proposed residential accommodation would appeal to both students and persons wanting to live close to the town centre.

“This is a sustainable town centre location for the mixed use with good access to both the commercial leisure and residential uses by other modes of transport than the car including walking, cycling, bus and train.”

New shop fronts with retractable canopies to allow for outdoor seating is also part of the application.

A decision is due to be made on the proposals at the planning committee meeting at the Civic Centre on Wednesday, November 20, starting at 10.15am.