Decision date set for controversial Greatham housing development

Hartlepool Borough Council Planning Committee had been due to make a decision on the proposals for the land at Hill View in Greatham at their meeting earlier this month.

However the decision was delayed to allow for a site visit, and councillors will now make a decision on the plans at a remote meeting on Wednesday July 22.

As part of the plans, submitted by Hartlepool Borough Council, all 18 properties would be owned and managed by the local authority through the choice-based lettings system.

The site would consist of 100% affordable rent properties.

In total 41 objections have been received by the council to the plans including concerns the homes could have a detrimental impact on highway and pedestrian safety in the area.

Concerns have also been raised over the loss of green space, used by children for playing on, and the lack of need for more housing due to empty homes and other new developments being recently approved in the area.

The council has also been notified a request had been made to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ‘call in’ the application if councillors approve it.

This means the local authority would no longer make the final decision, although it normally only happens if the application conflicts with national policy in important ways, or is “nationally significant”.

The 18 homes would be made up of two two bedroom properties, 10 three bed sites, two four bed houses and four bungalows.

Ahead of the meeting and the site visit, a report from senior council planning officer Ryan Cowley has recommended councillors on the committee approve the plans.

He said: “The application is considered to be acceptable with respect to the relevant material planning considerations and is considered to be in accordance with the relevant policies of the adopted Hartlepool Local Plan 2018.”

Those objecting to the plans include Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group, Greatham Parish Council, Elwick Parish Council and Hartlepool Civic Society.

An objection submitted by Greatham Residents’ Association said they were ‘almost universally opposed’ to the plans.

However documents from planning agent Gus Robinson Developments Ltd, acting on behalf of the council, state the proposals are ‘a great opportunity’ to develop the Hill View site.

Both objectors and the applicant are expected to speak to the committee to express their arguments for and against the plans.

A decision was initially scheduled to be made on the proposals at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, March 18, however it was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The meeting will also be live streamed to the public via YouTube from 9.30am on Wednesday, with a link to be made available by the council at least 24 hours before the meeting.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you