Former Mister Twister soft play centre in Hartlepool to be turned into office and warehouse

The former Mr Twister building in Hartlepool.

Proposals were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department earlier this year to convert the former Mister Twisters play centre in Park View Road West into a warehouse.

Plans from Knight Frank, an estate agency and property consultants, state it had been actively marketing the building since May 2018, as Mister Twisters was facing ‘financial troubles’, before it finally became vacant in November 2018.

The applicant added they recently received interest from Vanguard Packing to take over the site, who already have a premises in Hartlepool and are looking to expand.

A report from council planning officer Stephanie Bell has now confirmed the plans have been given the green light to go ahead.

She said: “Given that the proposals would bring a vacant unit back into use, with the re-introduction of a previously established industrial/commercial use, the principle of the development is considered to be acceptable.

“The proposal does not seek to extend the footprint of the building or create any new windows or openings.

“It is considered on balance that the proposal in this instance is acceptable.”

The proposed room layout is to largely remain as it is, with the existing ‘party rooms’ being repurposed as ‘offices’, the existing seating area repurposed as a storage room, and existing kitchen and bathroom areas remaining.

A planning statement from the applicant previously detailed the history of the site and why the proposals would benefit the area.

It said: “We have been actively marketing this building since May 2018 when the occupier tenant trading as Mr Twister was in severe financial difficulties.

“The building eventually fell vacant in November 2018 when the tenant company ceased trading.

“Shortly before Christmas I received an enquiry for the unit from John Sumner, Managing Director of Vanguard Packing Ltd who occupy premises in the town on a leasehold basis, which they had outgrown and he was keen to purchase an alternative unit.

“The application is to allow a company currently trading in Hartlepool to relocate and expand within the town creating additional jobs.

“It will simply allow the return of a building to its original intended use of employment on an industrial estate.”

The site is located at Park View Industrial Estate off Brenda Road and in July 2003 plans were approved for Mister Twisters to take over the building.

The play centre opened in October 2003 as a sister business to others in Consett and Gateshead but was later taken over by new owners.

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