What's happening with Hartlepool's new Elwick Bypass, and the hold-ups it's likely to face

It is hoped plans could be approved by spring 2021, but that won't be the end of the hurdles the project faces.

However Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs said it is ‘incredibly difficult’ to put a timescale on the new road due to issues purchasing land.

A funding strategy for the Elwick Bypass scheme was approved by councillors in 2018, with the planned road creating a bypass for the village of Elwick and an upgrade to the current Elwick North junction to the A19.

Also known as the Hartlepool Western Growth Corridor, the scheme aims to improve safety on the A19 and access to Hartlepool, along with enabling new homes to be built in the area.

Cllr Brenda Loynes, speaking at the council planning committee this week, asked how far along they were with the Elwick Bypass, noting traffic concerns in the area.

She said: “Elwick and Dalton have got a mega problem with speeding traffic, and down Elwick Road as well.

“I’m getting, every other day, complaints from residents about speeding traffic.

“There’s signs up to reduce the speed and what have you but nobody is taking any notice, there’s going to be a fatality on that road shortly, it concerns me a lot.”

The Rural West ward representative had also asked for an update at September’s planning committee meeting, after raising similar concerns.

Kieran Bostock, council assistant director for place management, said they had a meeting with Highways England last week to determine the design for the bypass, although land purchases ‘remain ongoing’.

Speaking to the committee, he said: “The design is progressing now and we are now stepping up to get planning permission submitted for the bypass itself.

“It’s incredibly difficult to put a timescale on it because of the land purchase issue.

“We’re hoping to get all of our ducks aligned and get the planning permission in hopefully by spring next year.

“That will then sit on the shelf until such time as we either negotiate the land or it goes through a CPO [compulsory purchase order] process.”

In 2018, when Full Council approved the funding strategy for the bypass, they also agreed to the use of CPO powers to secure the land needed for the bypass and junction in the event of negotiations with owners breaking down.

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