Plans approved for 570 homes in Hartlepool as chiefs welcome more housing and added benefits

Plans have been approved for a 570-home development to provide ‘much-needed’ new properties in Hartlepool.
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Councillors on Hartlepool Borough Council planning committee unanimously backed the proposals for the houses on land off Merlin Way and to the south of the A179.

This is despite 12 objections being submitted against the Miller Homes and Bellway Homes plans for the ‘Upper Warren’ site, including concerns it could lead to potential road and traffic issues.

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

The building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way.The building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way.
The building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way.
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Stephen Litherland, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the committee the scheme will support more than 1,000 jobs and see £2.3million invested into the area through planning obligations.

He said: “This is a good scheme for Hartlepool in general.

“The economic benefits that come from the scheme are quite significant, as you might expect 570 dwellings generate quite a lot in general tax revenue and also council tax revenue.

“The proposals would support way in excess of 1,000 jobs, that’s through direct and indirect employment. Section 106 contributions as well are significant, totalling £2.3million.”

How the site could look from aboveHow the site could look from above
How the site could look from above

“We feel that through collaboratively working with the council we’ve arrived at an excellent scheme that will be to the benefit of the local community and Hartlepool more widely.”

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A total of 18% of the homes are to be provided as affordable provision, equating to 103 units ‘pepper-potted’ across the development.

A pedestrian crossing is to be put in at Merlin Way as part of the planning conditions for the site, while the scheme will also feature green spaces and sustainable footpaths and cycleways.

Existing planning permission was 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 building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way. Picture by FRANK REIDThe building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way. Picture by FRANK REID
The building land at Upper Warren off Merlin Way. Picture by FRANK REID

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

Changes also include access now coming from a new roundabout off the A179, whereas previously it was coming past Strawberry Apartments and through Viola Close.

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Mr Litherland added the changes were ‘widely welcomed within the local community’, shown by the low level of objections.

Along with concerns from residents, Hart Parish Council had 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 and the roads.

However councillors unanimously voted to approve the housing development, supporting the recommendation made by council officers ahead of the meeting.

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