It’s time to take back Control of Hartlepool’s Planning
Did you know that huge chunks of Hartlepool – including most of the town centre and Church Street – are no longer in the hands of our local council?
That’s right. If you’ve noticed a sudden explosion in HMOs popping up all over the place, there’s a reason.
A few years back, planning powers in key parts of our town were handed over to Ben Houchen’s Tees Valley Development Corporation. Sounds dull and technical, right? But here’s the reality: Hartlepool Council was stripped of its authority and now many decisions are taken by a private firm based in Manchester.
Yes, Manchester. Not Hartlepool. Not even the North East. We’ve got planners making decisions about our town who’ve probably never even set foot on our streets. What’s worse is that in Middlesbrough, where they also have a development corporation, they kept their planning powers!
Back in 2022, I tried to stop it. I put forward a proposal to keep planning decisions in the hands of Hartlepool Council. But it was voted down by the Conservatives, including a few who’ve since jumped ship to Reform, and their so-called ‘independent’ allies.
Now I’m hearing more and more from residents and local businesses who are fed up. From inappropriate developments springing up with no warning, to the complete lack of coordination across the town, the big question is: who’s really in charge?
We’ve managed to get a couple of excellent councillors – Pamela Hargreaves and Brenda Harrison – onto the Development Corporation board. But they’re a minority and too many decisions never even get to that board. Instead they’re dealt with by bureaucrats from Manchester.
Let’s be honest: planning decisions should be made by people you elect – not by anonymous suits in another city. It’s your town. Your community. You deserve a say.
That’s why I want Hartlepool to take back control of our planning and I need you with me. We need a planning system that works with us, not one that walks all over us.
And we need a proper conversation, with you, about what kind of town we want to build. The future of Hartlepool shouldn’t be imposed on us from outside, it should be shaped by us, together.
This isn’t about party politics, it’s about basic fairness. Hartlepool decisions should be made in Hartlepool, by Hartlepool people.
So let me ask you: isn’t it time we took back control?
I want to hear what you think. Get in touch. Let’s make our voices heard.