Hartlepool events space wins prestigious award

It has been named the Best Small Project in the Small Category of the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) North East awards which aims to promote and celebrate civil engineering across the region.

It comes as Elephant Rock has also been shortlisted for two further awards in the Constructing Excellence in the North East awards in the categories:
- Value
- Conservation and Regeneration

Located on the promenade next to the Heugh Battery Museum, Elephant Rock has been developed by Hartlepool Borough Council. It was designed by the authority’s own in-house teams and local company Seymour Civil Engineering carried out the work on the ground as Principal Contractor.

Tony Hanson, Hartlepool Borough Council Director for Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services said: “Being recognised by the ICE in the Robert Stephenson Awards is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.

“Not only is it an amazing achievement to win this award and to be shortlisted for another two but it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved to revitalise the historic site.”

Elephant Rock has been created by the restoration of a previous site which was built in the late 1800s to provide a place for civic, community and cultural events.

It incorporated a bandstand and also served as a viewing platform for the historic Elephant Rock which stood a short distance offshore. This was an elephant-shaped limestone rock formed by a combination of coastal erosion and quarrying. Much of it collapsed into the sea following a storm in 1891.

The newly-restored site will host a range of open air performances in the spring and summer seasons, whilst also being available for commercial hire and use by community groups for events and activities.

Work is currently on-going to develop a programme of events, and further engagement will take place with stakeholders in the local community in the near future.