Hartlepool building wins prestigious national award

The BIS, which was formerly Hartlepool’s General Post Office building, won the category for Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy at the prestigious awards - the most established and respected in the UK planning industry.

Brought back into use by Hartlepool Borough Council in 2019, the grade II-listed building is now a 28 unit centre for business start-ups in the creative industries sector. The Council, the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and The Northern School of Art have all worked in partnership on The BIS project as part of a wider on-going Council initiative to develop an Innovation and Skills Quarter around Church Street.

Beverley Bearne, Assistant Director Development and Growth for Hartlepool Borough Council said: “This is another fantastic achievement for The BIS project which has seen a historic derelict building being transformed into a new vibrant centre for Hartlepool’s small creative businesses.

“Many congratulations to everyone involved in this ground-breaking project, which provides a superb environment in which small businesses can flourish and grow.

“Seeing all the success The BIS has achieved makes all of the hard work and effort put in by everyone worth it.”

Commenting on the project, the judges have said: “The BIS successfully demonstrates the role of the public sector in looking to the future and how town centres will recover. This project represents confidence in town centre development and a strong emphasis on the role of creative industries with 75% of spaces filled in the first year of the project.”

RTPI President Wei Yang FRTPI said: “I would like to congratulate all of the winners at this year’s RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence who have demonstrated how planning is an essential public service for our community. The winners have acted beyond boundaries to make positive and impactful changes - a perfect way of showing the world the positive role planners play in our society.

“The fact the even during the pandemic we received so many entries is a testament to how the planning profession across the UK and around the world has stepped up to deliver innovative, place-based solutions to the challenges of health and wellbeing, climate change and the biodiversity decline, as well as housing and economic growth.”

Further information about The BIS is available by telephoning (01429) 363150 or by emailing bis@hartlepool.gov.uk