Council chiefs celebrate as Levelling Up Fund bid approved

Hartlepool Borough Council has been awarded the money in Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund.

 The intention is to create a “Production Village” in the Lynn Street/Whitby street area that will act as a catalyst for the further development of Hartlepool’s fledgling screen industries sector.

It will build on the high-quality facilities already in place at the state-of-the-art Northern Film and TV Studios in Lynn Street, on the site of the Northern School of Art, and at The BIS in Whitby Street, the Council’s award-winning centre for start-up businesses in the creative sector.

The Council aims to transform the urban environment through the acquisition, redevelopment and selective demolition of existing buildings to create a range of new, flexible spaces that will provide post-production, back office and wider support services to screen industries. These will be complemented by the creation of an urban park/square to transform the look and feel of the area, improve the connection through to the town centre and attract new investment.

Councillor Shane Moore. Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that we have been awarded this money, and the decision reflects the quality of the bid we submitted. I would like to congratulate everyone who played a part in pulling it together. 

“This scheme has the potential to completely transform this part of the town centre, bringing huge benefits to Hartlepool and its residents as a whole. It will enable us to develop a thriving screen industries sector, attract inward investment and create a range of new job opportunities for local people.

“The plans also need to be seen in the context of our success in securing the £25m Hartlepool Town Deal which is allowing us to proceed with a number of other key regeneration projects, including the re-development of the former Wesley Chapel, the re-imagining of Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, connectivity improvements between The Waterfront and the town centre and the creation of civil engineering and health and social care skills academies.

“When you add the development of Highlight, the town’s new multi-million pound leisure centre, to the mix, it is a hugely exciting time for Hartlepool and its residents.”

The Levelling Up Fund is at the heart of the Government’s strategy to tackle economic inequality between the UK’s regions.