Major investment in new cycle routes approved.

Published Thursday, 3rd April 2025

Three new cycle routes have been approved by councillors in Hartlepool in a major boost for sustainable travel.

The routes will link the town centre with:

  • Catcote Road, via Burn Valley Gardens.
  • The Waterfront and its visitor attractions.
  • The historic Headland.

The total cost of all three schemes is an estimated £9.2m, with all of the funding coming from the UK Government via the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

The schemes were approved by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee and Councillor Karen Oliver who chairs the committee, said: “It is fantastic news that we have managed to attract this external funding which represents a huge investment in the borough’s transport infrastructure.

“As an authority, we are committed to tackling climate change through our net zero agenda and these routes will play a key role in offering people a sustainable alternative to travelling by car.

“These routes also reflect our Council Plan priority to ensure Hartlepool is a place that is sustainable, clean, safe and green.”

All three schemes have been designed in-house by the Council’s Engineering and Highways Teams to the latest design standards and externally ratified for compliance through Active Travel England.

The town centre to Catcote Road scheme will link with an existing on-road cycle route on Waldon Street, head along Elwick Road, down Penryhn Street and into Burn Valley Gardens. By improving an existing route within Burn Valley Gardens, the scheme will facilitate safe cycling up to Catcote Road where it will enable cyclists to continue on to Summerhill Country Park. The scheme will include new and improved road crossings, improved traffic signals to cater for cyclists, new streetlighting and improvements to existing streetlights.

The town centre to The Waterfront route will exit the Transport Interchange onto Church Square, over Marina Way bridge, down The Lanyard, behind the Mecca bingo hall to Maritime Avenue. Once past Ensign Court it will join the promenade heading towards Seaton Carew, part of the National Cycle Network Route 14.

The route to the Headland will go via Maritime Avenue, around the perimeter of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool car park, The Highlight, Middleton Road, north along Marina Way and along the northern side of Cleveland Road before joining up with the western end of the Headland promenade.

Construction work is scheduled to start in September this year.