'The start of Hartlepool's renaissance' as £25million programme of projects moves forward

Hartlepool has been identified as one of 100 places that have been invited to develop proposals for a Town Deal up to £25million, as part of the Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund programme.

Developing the Wesley Chapel site, re-imagining Middleton Grange Shopping Centre and improving connectivity around the Marina are all being lined up as projects to benefit as part of the national funding bid.

A presentation was given on the Town Investment Plan to the council regeneration services committee on Wednesday (January 20) looking at the bid and the five projects identified to benefit from it.

Cllr Christopher Akers-Blecher, chair of the committee, said he was confident in the cases put forward and praised the project which would help ‘reinvent Hartlepool’.

He said: “We just need to think, this is the start of the renaissance of developing Hartlepool and £25million might seem a lot of money, but it’s not a lot of money.

“We’re being ambitious but we’re being realistic.”

Other projects include a Health and Care Centre of Excellence training facility within the University Hospital of Hartlepool, which would be a ‘state of the art facility’ and ‘one of only a handful in the country’ of its kind.

Cllr Akers-Belcher added this can help ‘realise the potential’ of the hospital and sends a message out to residents they want it invested in.

The final project involves developing the Tees Valley Civil Engineering Institute, which proposes investment in the consolidation and growth of teaching and training capacity in Hartlepool to ‘enhance and future-proof facilities’.

Sites involved include the Hartlepool College of Further Education Exeter Street Annex and the Seymour Skills Academy in Brenda Road, an 11-acre ‘real world’ training ground with teaching facilities which opened in 2019.

Cllr Jim Lindridge added the projects are exciting for the town, particularly praising how it can help young people develop different skills.

He said: “I really think we can transform the town, it’s going to give residents hope, it is a realistic project, and it’s inclusive.

“The key is it’s a viable vision and more importantly it’s enterprising and encompassing everything.

Council officers noted they had over 30 projects to go through before shortlisting the chosen five, and those which have not made it will not be ‘in the waste paper bin’ and could come forward in the future.

Denise McGuckin, council managing director, who gave the presentation to councillors, said it is vitally important they improve the town centre, which the Town Deal can help them do.

She said: “We need a town centre that works better for our community and is more attractive for private investment, businesses and learners.

“We need to look at the rapid development of new and enhanced skills in Hartlepool.

“Some parts of the central area are tired and dilapidated, the image of the town centre is a constraint on attracting more and better jobs, with employers looking to locate in to more urban areas.

“We want to improve the physical appearance of the town and promote civic pride with new visitors and new investment.”

A submission of the Town Investment Plan is to go to Government ministers at the end of this month, and council officers said they hope to hear within a month if they have been successful, and if so, if they will receive the full £25million.

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