New Hartlepool pedestrian and cycle bridge part of £20 million government funding bid

The new cycling and pedestrian bridge to better link Hartlepool Waterfront, the town centre and the railway station, is one of three intended projects if Hartlepool Borough Council is successful with the application to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Improving connections between the town centre and marina have been on the council’s agenda for some time to help regenerate the town.

The council says it would also use the additional funding towards making Hartlepool’s planned new leisure centre the Highlight more energy efficient and sustainable, and the refurbishment and expansion of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

It comes after the announcement last week that Hartlepool had been successful in its bid for £25 million from the Government’s Town Fund, also to improve the town centre.

Councillor Shane Moore, the leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We already have exciting plans for Hartlepool and there is clear alignment with these existing ambitions and the opportunity for Levelling Up funding.

“We’re seizing this opportunity and a great deal of work has gone into this to ensure that we meet the criteria and stand a great chance of being successful in securing investment into our communities that could be transformed by a £20 million bid.”

The deadline for round one of the Levelling Up Fund bids is Friday, June 18, with the main themes of the criteria being culture, transport and town centre regeneration.

Councillor Paddy Brown, chair of the council’s economic growth and regeneration committee, added: “To successfully bid for £25 million from the Government’s Towns Deal was great news and I hope our bid to the Levelling Up Fund will be equally successful.

“Refurbishment and expansion of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool would ensure it continues to develop as a visitor destination of national significance.

“We also know that connectivity improvements to better link the marina, town centre and railway station will make it far easier for residents and visitors to move around the town and so many people are looking forward to our new leisure centre opening in 2024.”

A decision on the bid is expected in the autumn.

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