Shaping future development – have your say

Published Thursday, 19th September 2024

Residents of Hartlepool are being invited to have their say on what they value about where they live and how future new developments should be designed.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Planning Policy Team is running an eight-week public consultation until 8th November.

Information gathered will be used to create a set of design rules and guidance, known as design codes.

These will set out specific rules for how new developments should be designed to ensure they are of a high quality and reflect the needs of local communities. They will be used to guide developments across the borough.

Planning applications will be assessed against the rules set out in the design codes.

Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “Residents’ views as to what they value about the area and how they feel developments should be designed in the future are key to the development of a long-term vision for the borough around how we can design sustainable housing and communities, whilst preserving our fantastic heritage.”

Councillor Tom Feeney, Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee, said: “We want to ensure that future residential development meets the needs and aspirations of people, so I would encourage them to have their say.”

These rules can cover many areas of a development’s design, including

  • How streets are designed.
  • Levels of car parking.
  • Where buildings should be placed in a street.
  • How buildings should be designed to take account of local character, including heritage, architecture and materials.
  • How spaces for water and nature should be included.
  • How landscaping should be included.

As part of the public consultation exercise, the following drop-in events are to be held:

  • Hartlepool Cricket Club; 24th September, 12-3pm.
  • Wynyard Golf Club; 26th September, 12-3pm.
  • Seaton Carew Library; 1st October, 12-3pm.
  • Headland Library; 4th October,12-3pm.
  • Greatham Village Hall; 7th October,12-3pm.
  • Community Hub Central; 10th October, 12-3pm.

There is also an online survey and map where residents can drop pins on what they like about where they live. This can be accessed at https://yoursay.hartlepool.gov.uk/designcode

Further consultation will take place on the new design codes once they have been prepared.