Concerns raised over plans for 475 new homes off Hartlepool's Elwick Road, with fears for traffic and green spaces

Proposals have been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department to provide the properties on land to the north of Elwick Road and south of Worset Lane.

The outline application, from Hartlepool-based Cecil M Yuill, states the scheme would be the third phase of the Quarry Farm housing development.

However concerns have been raised by Elwick, Hart and Dalton Piercy Parish Councils, and more than 20 residents, who have all submitted objections to the council over the plans.

A response from Hart Parish Council stated they ‘strongly object’ to the plans adding there is ‘no evidence’ for the level of extra housing.

They said: “Councillors are deeply concerned about the impact occupiers of these new homes will have on the inadequate road infrastructure in this area of the borough.

“At peak times traffic is already virtually at a standstill on local access routes, which were not designed to take large amounts of traffic.

“Hartlepool Borough Council cannot continue to grant planning permission for developments on the north side of the borough without taking immediate action to improve the road infrastructure.”

They said this comes after 220 new homes were already approved at Quarry Farm as part of phase two of the development.

Dalton Piercy Parish Council added the plans should not be considered until ‘serious existing infrastructure issues’ are resolved.

Other concerns from residents include how the plans will contribute to a loss of green space in Hartlepool.

One Woodhouse Lane resident said: “The development will involve the loss of a significant amount of green space/woodland/bushes and won’t allow for any further growth of the green space in future.”

Edward Yuill, managing director of the firm behind the plans, originally announced at the end of last year proposals would be going in for the development.

The homes would be made up of a mix of two, three and four bedroom sites, with 18% of properties allocated as onsite affordable housing.

A planning statement from JW Planning, on behalf of the applicant, said there were numerous benefits the development would bring to the area.

It said: “The development will create both direct and indirect employment and training opportunities for the local population.

“The construction of 475 dwellings will help to address a shortfall in the delivery of housing within Hartlepool.

“The proposed development will also provide a mix of high quality 2, 3 and 4 bedroomed houses in a high quality landscaped setting which will meet the needs of present and future generations, assisting in both the retention of the existing population, and also attracting new population to Hartlepool.”

The proposed site also features a ‘local centre’ with both retail and business incubator units.

Plans state the site will be accessed via two vehicular access points, with the primary access point created directly off Elwick Road to the south of the site

A secondary access via a connection to the Quarry Farm phase 2 site to the east, providing an onward route to Reedston Road/Cairnston Road, is also proposed.

A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by the council planning department later this month.

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