Cluster of homes approved for site on outskirts of Hartlepool, despite concerns

Hartlepool Borough Council Planning Committee has approved proposals to demolish the existing property at Mayfield House in Dalton Piercy Road, and build five new homes.

Jon Whitfield from Euro Property Management Ltd, who submitted the outline application, told councillors the development would provide quality housing in the area.

He said: “The proposed development makes the most effective use of the land to deliver quality housing which in turn supports the economy of the rural area.

“The site is deliverable and therefore it will make a valuable contribution to housing stock, the authority will benefit from the new homes bonus and council tax receipts.

“Although this is outline, the proposals are to deliver quality architecturally designed homes, possibly the greenest within the borough.”

He said the homes would feature solar energy, air source heating, greywater systems for rainwater recycling, electric car charging points and more.

Plans stated the development would provide one six bedroom and four new five bedroom homes in Dalton Piercy, each with a double garage and at least two further parking spaces.

The approval came despite council senior planning officer Ryan Cowley recommending the proposals were refused, citing concerns the development was ‘unsustainable’ and ‘isolated’ in the rural area.

He said: “The location of the site is considered to be unsustainable, isolated from other communities, services and amenities, with poor transport links to neighbouring villages and the main urban area of Hartlepool.

“It is considered the development would do little to preserve the vitality and viability of the rural area due to its isolation, and would not provide an appropriate housing mix as required by local planning policy.

“The development would also encroach into the protected green gaps within the rural neighbourhood plan.”

However councillors noted the development would be near to where 1,200 homes are due to be built as part of the High Tunstall housing development, which will include amenities within it.

They added plans have also been approved for homes at the nearby ‘Hart-on-the-Hill’ site, which is around 300 yards away.

Cllr Marjorie James said: “Whilst in the report it says these properties will be isolated, over the next year or couple of years of development, that has already been approved, then they will not be isolated and therefore are sustainable.”

Cllr Christopher Akers-Belcher added: “I think we’ve established that they wouldn’t be isolated new dwellings in the longer term because there’s going to be 1,200 houses built on one side and we’ve already agreed the building of houses within 300 yards.

“They will have access to amenities because in the fullness of time when the Tunstall development is built, they will have amenities all around them that they can access.”

The proposals were approved by eight votes to three, subject to the finalising of planning conditions, completion of legal agreements and securing green infrastructure contributions.

The approval comes despite concerns being raised to the housing plans from Dalton Piercy, Elwick and Greatham Parish Councils, and the Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group, who objected to the development.

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