Work is underway on a key phase of Hartlepool’s £18.5 million Screen Industries Production Village, bringing the town a step closer to becoming a major hub for film, television and digital production.
The start of public realm improvements on Scarborough Street marks a significant milestone in the transformational project, which will deliver state-of-the-art production facilities and create exciting new opportunities for businesses, creatives and local residents.
The improvements will see Scarborough Street fully regenerated, complementing the investment already made by local businesses to enhance and improve their own properties.
The street will be resurfaced with high-quality granite paving, using the same material palette as the wider Screen Industries Production Village development, creating a distinctive and cohesive look across the area.
The project will also deliver wider footpaths, providing improved facilities for pedestrians, while alterations to the junction with Exeter Street will make it easier for businesses to host outdoor events through temporary road closures while still maintaining access for deliveries and business parking.
New heritage-style lighting columns will be installed to enhance the character of the area and improve lighting levels throughout the street.
The works are scheduled for completion before Christmas, with resurfacing works outside Hartlepool railway station set to follow.
Councillor Rob Darby, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said: “This is a huge milestone and a very proud day for Hartlepool. The start of work on Scarborough Street is further evidence that the Council is once again delivering on its ambitious plans to regenerate our town and create high-quality jobs and opportunities for local people.
“When complete, the improvements to Scarborough Street will create a welcoming and attractive environment that reflects the scale of ambition behind this project while supporting the fantastic businesses already based there.”
Scarborough Street is one of several major elements of the wider Screen Industries Production Village project that will move forward over the coming months. Restoration work on The Vaults pub and properties at 21-25 Whitby Street is due to begin in January 2027, while early restoration work on The Shades Hotel, one of Church Street’s most historic and iconic properties which will serve as the gateway to the development, is scheduled to start in November. Full restoration work which includes the neighbouring properties at 10-14 Church Street, is set to begin in January 2027.
(L-R): Paul Taylor, Hartlepool Borough Council (HBC) Head of Strategic Development and Sustainability; Javed Khan, HBC Assistant Director, Inclusive Growth; Coun Rob Darby and Kieran Bostock, HBC Director of Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services
Councillor Darby added: “The Screen Industries Production Village is one of the most exciting regeneration projects Hartlepool and the wider Tees Valley has ever seen. It is about much more than refurbishing buildings and improving streets. It is about creating a thriving creative quarter that will attract investment, support businesses, nurture talent and put Hartlepool firmly on the map as a destination for film, television and digital production.
“You can already see our vision taking shape and, as we move towards the development of the Screen Industries Production Village, there is real excitement about the opportunities this investment will bring for generations to come.”
The Screen Industries Production Village, incorporating the existing Northern Studios which are to be enhanced and expanded, is due to open in January 2028.
Led by Hartlepool Borough Council, the project is being delivered in partnership with the Northern School of Art, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen.