Thousands of homes set to be created in major development

Plans for a major mixed-use development in Hartlepool which would create more than 1,000 homes alongside a primary school, medical centre and retail units look set to be green lit.The hybrid application earmarks a parcel of land between A689 and Brierton Lane for the development, which seeks full planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings to make way for 144 homes within the northern end of the site.The permission will accommodate the homes, which will be a mix of two-three and four bedrooms as well as bungalows.The full application also seeks approval for the main accesses roads to serve the northern and southern development areas.Outline planning permission is sought for the majority of the development, which could create up to 1,116 homes as well as a primary school, changing facilities, playing fields, retail units, pub/restaurant and a medical centre.An application for the site was originally submitted in 2014 and was considered by committee in 2015, but at the time there was an outstanding objection from the Health and Safety executive regarding the relationship of the play areas and sports pitches to a pipeline which crossed the site.The plans where re-submitted a number of times before being stalled in 2018 after coming up against a variety of obstacles.Given the time elapsed since its original submission, and the application overcoming the issues highlighted in previous iterations, the new proposal has been refreshed with further consultation undertaken.The new application, which will go before Hartlepool Borough Council on Wednesday 16 March, received 51 letters of objection, with concerns including the lack of need for housing in the area, air, light, noise and water pollution and loss of green belt land.Despite the objections, the application will go before the council with the recommendation for approval.