New Hartlepool relief road plans for Elwick could be delayed by public inquiry

Proposals were approved by Hartlepool Borough Council’s planning committee in January 2024 for the construction of a new “grade separated” junction linked to the A19.

The Hartlepool Western Link project, previously labelled the Elwick bypass, features the creation of a circular ramped slip road, a bridge and a new highway north of Elwick Village connecting to existing routes.

Local authority officers have now provided an update on the potential timeframe for work to take place.

An application was recently submitted by council officers to carry out “minor alterations” and vary some elements of the previously approved proposals and a decision is expected to be made on that in February 2026.

The council would then look to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to acquire the land needed for the scheme along with the necessary side road orders and slip road orders to carry out highways alterations.

Subject to receiving support to do this at a full council meeting on Thursday, these orders would be made and published in spring 2026.

There would then be a period where statutory objections could be made and a possible public inquiry would be expected to take place at the back end of 2026.

A decision would then need to be made by the Secretary of State and it if approved it is hoped the land would formally become the council’s in spring 2027.

Kieran Bostock, director for neighbourhood and regulatory services, said: “This potentially gives us a readiness for construction on site in summer 2027.”

The update came at the latest meeting of the neighbourhoods and regulatory services committee.

Cllr Owen Riddle, chair of the committee, said there are “three really obvious reasons” as to why the scheme needs to progress.

He said: “I think the first one is from a road safety element, particularly on the A179. There has been lots of tension on that and I think we need to ease that pressure on that particular road.

“Another aspect is the general traffic and congestion element as well which everyone knows about trying to get in and out of Hartlepool, we need to make that better and easier, and also for the growth perspective as well.”