Second attempt to get plans through for controversial affordable housing in Greatham

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

However in the autumn modified plans were resubmitted by officers at Hartlepool Borough Council to again 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.

More than 85 objections have been received, including from the Greatham Residents Association and the Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group, to the resubmitted plans.

The proposals are to go before the council planning committee on Wednesday, January 13, for a decision to be made, and council officers have recommended the proposals are approved.

A report from council senior planning officer Ryan Cowley argues the plans are ‘acceptable with respect to the relevant material planning considerations and considered to be in accordance with the Hartlepool Local Plan 2018’.

However previous plans for the land at Greatham had also been recommended for approval, but were then refused by councillors after numerous objections.

Objections to the latest plans include comments from Greatham Parish Council, who argue the plans do not meet local housing needs which are ‘very clearly identified’ in the Rural Neighbourhood Plan.

They said: “This robs the village community of the ability to provide housing to meet the needs of their community.

“It is time for Hartlepool Borough Council to act like a unitary authority and show a responsibility for the smaller communities under its jurisdiction.

“Too often it acts as nothing more than a town council imposing dominant urban needs upon the surrounding rural communities.”

A response from Brian Walker, chair of the Hartlepool Rural Neighbourhood Plan Group, claims the council has ‘cherry-picked’ the land in Greatham to provide affordable homes to meet housing targets.

He said this is despite there being no need for it in the village, with land already limited.

Objections from residents also raise concerns over an overdevelopment of the area, an inadequate highway structure, loss of open space and fears over increased antisocial behaviour.

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 5 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.

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

The planning committee refused the previous development for the land as they said it would have a ‘detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area by reason of the high density of the development’.

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 to be made on the proposals at the council planning committee meeting on Wednesday, starting at 9.30am and streamed live via the ‘Hartlepool Council meeting videos’ YouTube channel.

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