Borough Hall renovation timeline announced

It comes as Hartlepool Borough Hall – located on the historic Headland – had previously been highlighted by the Council as a site to benefit from investment funds.

Today, members of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Finance and Policy Committee received a report outlining the timelines and plans for the work to be carried out.

The £3 million renovation – part of the Council’s ambitious Capital Investment Programme – will include wide scale refurbishments across the site.

The areas of the building to be improved include:

• The entrance and bar areas
• The main hall and associated performance elements
• Backstage facilities

Other key rooms in the remainder of the Hall are also to be refurbished to offer a high quality wedding venue.

£1.8 million towards the project will come from HM Treasury and Arts Council England after Hartlepool Borough Council was successful in attaining this grant funding in 2021.

£1.2million has also been approved to go towards the scheme through the Council’s Capital Investment Programme.

An outline business case is currently being completed ahead of a detailed planning application being submitted in the summer.

The target is for work to be completed in December 2023, ready for the refurbished site to launch at the start of 2024.

Councillor Shane Moore, the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Finance and Policy Committee, said: “This is great news and a massive boost for the Headland and the Borough as a whole.

“The Borough Hall is an iconic building, but unfortunately it is showing its age and is in need of urgent renovation."

Councillor Moore continued: “We knew the money was already identified for this exciting renovation, but today’s report highlights the great progress being made.

“The site is due to close at the end of this year and will reopen at the start of 2024 as a totally transformed cultural centre.”