Plan to to make Hartlepool's Headland Bandstand an events venue once more

Proposals have been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department to carry our restoration works to the Headland Bandstand along the promenade.

The plans, submitted by Guy Rawlinson, responsible for building design at the council, state the work will include the construction of tiered seating at the site.

The Headland Bandstand improvements were one of a number of projects highlighted to be carried out as part of the council capital investment plan which was approved last December, before being finalised in February.

It came after an independent structural report, carried out in 2019, said the existing structure is in a ‘poor condition’ with sections prone to structural movement and in need of repair to ‘ensure structural stability’.

A design and access statement, submitted on behalf of the council, states the plans would bring the landmark site back into use and allow it to host outdoor events.

It said: “It is intended that the previous use as a usable event space and associated terrace seating is returned to the site.

“New precast concrete terrace units would provide a series of seating levels accessed by new steps.

“This would provide a space for outdoor events to take place. It is envisaged that events will range from small and informal to larger scale and organised.”

The concrete used at the site would be a ‘neutral light grey’ colour to complement existing materials in the area according to the plans, while pregrown wildflower turf would also be planted in the area.

Appropriate repairs would be carried out to the retained back wall of the structure and the pedestrian railing between the bandstand terrace and Town Moor wall would also be retained.

The Headland Bandstand, adjacent to The Heugh Battery, was constructed over a series of phases in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Previously the site consisted of a grassed earth bank with bench seating, along with a bandstand on the promenade.

Both the seating and the bandstand have been removed, leaving a series of concrete terraces and steps.

A decision is expected to be made on the plans by the Hartlepool Borough Council planning department later this month.

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