Fears over congestion and wildlife after plans submitted for 570 homes off Merlin Way in Hartlepool

Proposals were submitted in autumn 2020 by Miller Homes and Bellway Homes to provide the development on land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way and to the south of the A179.

Existing planning permission is already in place to build 500 homes at the site, after outline plans were approved in 2015, which was followed by a reserved matters application providing more details getting the go ahead in April 2019.

The latest plans would supersede those approved proposals, and provide an additional 70 homes at the site.

However around 15 comments of objection have been submitted to the plans by residents, raising concerns such as the over-development of the area and potential traffic issues impacting vehicles and pedestrians.

Hart Parish Council has also submitted an objection to the plans, raising concerns over how much larger it is than previous proposals and the impact it would have on traffic.

They said: “Councillors note that outline planning permission has already been given for 500 dwellings on this site, but are deeply concerned at the 14% increase to 570 dwellings requested in this application.

“The result of this, if approved, will be a further increase in the volume of traffic using the A179, a road that is already at capacity at peak times.

“570 homes will result in a further 1,000 plus vehicles each day using the A179 past Hart village, leading to further difficulties for villagers wishing to access or leave the village.”

In total the proposed site would offer 55 two-bed homes, 314 three-bed, 177 four-bed and 24 five-bedroom properties, and would include the creation of a new roundabout to access the development off the A179.

Residents who submitted objections to the council over the plans noted numerous potential issues with the development.

A Tremaine Close resident said: “There is not enough infrastructure in the area to support an extra 570 houses, 1,000 plus people.

“The roads are already too busy with not enough parking, shopping or education facilities.”

A Lady Mantle Close resident also raised concerns over a number of nesting birds losing their habitat due to the development, such as skylarks, pheasants, partridges and oystercatchers.

He said: “Kestrels also hunt regularly in the area, as do sparrowhawks. We hear the song birds during their breeding season. Building on this site will definitely destroy the habitat.”

However a joint statement from Miller Homes and Bellway Homes previously said the plans will provide much needed new homes which would benefit the area.

They said: “Miller Homes and Bellway Homes have submitted a joint planning application for 570 new homes on land at Upper Warren in Hartlepool.

“If the application is successful, Bellway Homes will create 370 units and Miller Homes would create 200, all ranging from three to five bedroom high quality homes across the two developments.

“In addition to providing much needed new homes for the area, the development will also benefit from areas of open space to enhance ecology on the site and contributions will be made to support local amenities and infrastructure.”

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of the applicant also notes the site offers ‘excellent opportunities for the creation of distinctive residential neighbourhoods’ and will produce a ‘high quality and sustainable’ community.

A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by Hartlepool Borough Council planning department in the near future.

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