Green light for major housing development

Plans for a major development in Hartlepool which could create thousands of homes alongside a primary school, medical centre and retail units have been green lit.The hybrid application went before the planning committee on Wednesday 16 March with the recommendation for approval.The scheme earmarks a parcel of land between A689 and Brierton Lane for the development.Full planning permission has been secured to demolish the existing builds on the site 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.Outline planning permission has also been granted 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 were 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 current application received 51 letters of objection, with concerns including the lack of need for housing in the area, air, light, noise and water pollution and the loss of green belt land.