New development in Hartlepool's Lynn Street area will 'go big way' towards increasing affordable homes for those who need them

Councillors have praised steps being taken to deliver a new development featuring 47 affordable rented homes in Hartlepool town centre.
The Grade-II listed Market Hotel site is among the locations listed for housing development, after heritage chiefs concluded its state of disrepair meant the building's historic significance had been diminished.The Grade-II listed Market Hotel site is among the locations listed for housing development, after heritage chiefs concluded its state of disrepair meant the building's historic significance had been diminished.
The Grade-II listed Market Hotel site is among the locations listed for housing development, after heritage chiefs concluded its state of disrepair meant the building's historic significance had been diminished.

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs are looking to provide the 47 affordable rented housing units, which will be owned and managed by the local authority, across three sites in the town centre area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hartlepool Borough Council Finance and Policy Committee on Monday approved referring the scheme to full council to get the backing for the required prudential borrowing of up £4.744million for the scheme.

Hartlepool Borough Council plans for housing sites around Lynn Street.Hartlepool Borough Council plans for housing sites around Lynn Street.
Hartlepool Borough Council plans for housing sites around Lynn Street.

They also backed submitting a bid to Homes England for affordable homes funding, and noted how funding will also hopefully come from an application for the Brownfield Housing Fund.

Reports ahead of the meeting stated the scheme will help ‘deliver regeneration aims, create 250 jobs and bring vacant and derelict sites back into productive use’.

Cllr Shane Moore, council leader, praised the progress being made, adding it would help grow the council’s housing stock, which would benefit residents in the town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “It’s really good to see this proposal come forward.

The council depot off Lynn Street is another proposed site for affordable housingThe council depot off Lynn Street is another proposed site for affordable housing
The council depot off Lynn Street is another proposed site for affordable housing

“As some members will be aware this is one that was always on our wishlist, but we didn’t think we would be able to move it forward anytime soon, certainly not without external funding.

“I’m pleased to say should this one go forward, that brings the total number of new housing units that we’d have brought forward as a council since March 19 to 97 properties.

“That’s going a really big way towards increasing the stock that the council is able to offer to local residents.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Mike Young, deputy council leader, also thanked the team who has been putting the bid together to allow the project to progress.

He said: “We’ve all looked at it and looked at it on the map and thought ‘would it ever happen?’

“We’re still in early phases on this one but that’s progress in itself and I look forward to good resolutions on this.”

Councillors from across all political parties on the committee also backed and supported the steps being taken towards the development.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris Little, council director of resources and development, added it is a ‘good news project’ but will take time and ‘a lot of work’ to come forward.

Overall 43% of the scheme will be funded from grant funding and 57% from prudential borrowing.

The site would feature seven units at the site of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, four units at the Market Hotel site, and 36 at the depot site.

Mr Little added the Market Hotel site has been identified to be sorted out for ‘many, many years’ which the scheme would provide.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Out of the 47 properties, 15 would be two bedroom terraced/semi-detached houses, seven would be two-bedroom bungalows and 25 would be three-bedroom town houses.

The project is currently under development and the planning submission is expected in the coming weeks, with a decision hoped for by May 2021.

If approved, the aim would be to complete the delivery of 47 new ‘affordable and energy efficient homes’ for rent by 31st May 2023 at the latest.

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.