Fresh plans for controversial Hartlepool council housing development in Greatham

Earlier in 2020, proposals were refused by Hartlepool Borough Council planning committee for 18 new homes at land at Hill View in Greatham.

The committee ruled the development would have a ‘detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area by reason of the high density of the development’.

However modified plans have now been resubmitted by officers at Hartlepool Borough Council to provide 18 homes on the land.

As part of the proposals, all properties would be owned and managed by the local authority through the choice-based lettings system, and the site would consist of 100% affordable rent properties.

The previous plans faced a total of 41 objections from residents along with concerns from the Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group, Greatham Parish Council, Elwick Parish Council and Hartlepool Civic Society.

Representatives from the Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group have again voiced their concerns to the plans, and the impact it could have on Greatham.

A response from Brian Walker, chair of the group, noted the council has ‘cherry-picked’ the land in Greatham to provide affordable homes to meet housing targets, despite there being no need for it in the village, with land already limited.

He said: “The burden of providing that affordable housing is being directed to a village where about 50% of the 450 homes are already rented.

“This is using up land allocated by the Rural Neighbourhood Plan to meet a rural housing need in a village where available land is extremely limited.

“The needs and aspirations of the village community are ignored and brutally cast aside. The imbalance of the past exacerbated and inflicted upon future generations.

“Other villages in the Rural Plan area really need affordable homes, so why has Greatham, which doesn’t, been selected?”

He added villagers in Greatham aspiring to own their own homes are already frequently forced to look outside the community, and the village is now having land ‘stolen from it to meet urban need’.

However a planning statement from consultants Planning House, on behalf of the council, states the proposals will benefit the area.

It said: “The proposed development will assist the Local Authority in achieving a five-year housing land supply against its objectively assessed needs by delivering 18 dwellings.

“In particular the development will provide affordable homes which will be managed and owned by Hartlepool Council.

“The resubmission alters the proposed layout and housing mix to reduce the developed area and density of the proposed development.

“There are no ‘significant and demonstrable’ adverse impacts of the revised proposed development which would outweigh the benefits of the proposal.”

The revised submission differs from what was previously refused for the site by reducing the developed area of the plans to ensure it does not include development on any of the designated public open space.

The mix of properties has also been altered to include more two bed properties, with the proposed site now comprising of six two bedroom houses, a further four two bed flats and eight three bedroom homes.

A decision is expected to be made on the proposals by the council planning department in January.

To view and comment on the planning application, visit the Hartlepool Borough Council planning portal online and search reference number H/2020/0372.

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