Number of 2025 visitors to Hartlepool's Middleton Grange Shopping Centre revealed along with repairs update
"Crucial repairs" to Hartlepool Middleton Grange Shopping Centre are due to be complete in the coming weeks ahead of longer term options for its regeneration being considered.
The update was provided at the latest board meeting of Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC), which concluded negotiations to buy the long lease for the centre in late 2023.
A report from officers stated short-term risk mitigation works to “vital” areas of the closed market hall have been taking place over recent months.
The indoor market shut in September 2024 due to structural issues, including the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Officers added “crucial repairs to other key operational areas of the centre” are also underway and the meeting heard both sets of works should be completed in May.
The report from Jonathan Spruce, head of planning at Hartlepool Development Corporation, noted “assessment of the potential longer-term options for the future of the market hall and the closed vehicle ramp continue”.
He added: “These options are being considered in conjunction with the options for the regeneration of the wider Middleton Grange focus area.”
In recent months more details have been revealed around the re-imagining Middleton Grange project, which includes the restoration and refurbishment of the Grade II Listed former Binns and Wilko premises.
This includes plans for a new Nuclear and Electrical Trades Academy at the site.
The structure is undergoing a £13.8m redevelopment and work will include partial demolition of the centre.
Elsewhere an update to the board noted for the 2025 calendar year the total number of visitors to Middleton Grange was 4,404,154, down 1.5% compared to 2024.
Mr Spruce stated the UK average for similar shopping centres was a 0.5% increase, while the North/Yorkshire figure showed footfall rates remained stationary.
He added this is “disappointing” but stressed they continue to keep an eye on the data as they look at “how we turn the shopping centre around” – with a new business plan currently being produced.
HDC chair Councillor Pamela Hargreaves said: “All of this really is about the longer term vision and the longer term role of the shopping centre and what we do with it for the borough.
“Not just the development corporation, it’s a borough wide issue and we need to make sure that we make some smart decisions.”