The Town Deal - Introduction and Overview

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Artists impression of what the Waterfront development could look like

Project Update summer 2025...

The Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government approved funding for five projects, and these are being delivered by wide ranging partners across the town:


The renovation of the former Wesley Chapel

The Grade II listed building on Victoria Road, built in 1872, is being restored to create a boutique hospitality venue and 55 jobs. The redevelopment is well advanced and will complete early in 2026.


Connectivity improvements between The Waterfront, the town centre and Seaton Carew

9 phases of the Waterfront Connectivity project are underway to create new and improved walking routes, cycleways, wayfinding signs and public open spaces in and around Hartlepool Marina. A new walking and cycling route opened in 2023 to connect the Marina to Seaton Carew, while 8 other projects are underway to complete in 2026.


Health and social care skills academy

A new academy to create training and employment opportunities in social care and health at The University Hospital of Hartlepool was completed and opened in September 2024, led by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.


Civil engineering skills academy

A new academy on two sites to create vital training and employment opportunities in civil engineering was completed in 2025. Led by Hartlepool College of Further Education and Seymour’s, a new Fabrication and Welding Institute opened at the College in April 2024 and a ‘real life’ training centre in civil engineering was completed and launched in March 2025 at Brenda Road.


The reimagining of the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre

The project will restore the Grade II listed ‘Binns’ Department store building, create impressive new entrance ways to the shopping centre help create a clearly defined mixed heart for the town centre. The project is in the design stage with completion due in 2027.


What is the Town Deal?

Hartlepool was one of 100 towns across England in 2021 invited to develop innovative regeneration plans and submit a Town Investment Plan setting out proposed developments to improve the town and create jobs. As a result, the town secured £25 million through the Government’s Towns Deal initiative.


The Town Deal is aimed at boosting economic growth and unlocking the economic potential of our town and is led by the Hartlepool Town Deal Board. The Board is chaired by Darren Hankey, the Principal of Hartlepool College of Further Education, and comprises representatives of the local public, private and voluntary sectors.




Artists impression of what the Waterfront development could look like

Project Update summer 2025...

The Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government approved funding for five projects, and these are being delivered by wide ranging partners across the town:


The renovation of the former Wesley Chapel

The Grade II listed building on Victoria Road, built in 1872, is being restored to create a boutique hospitality venue and 55 jobs. The redevelopment is well advanced and will complete early in 2026.


Connectivity improvements between The Waterfront, the town centre and Seaton Carew

9 phases of the Waterfront Connectivity project are underway to create new and improved walking routes, cycleways, wayfinding signs and public open spaces in and around Hartlepool Marina. A new walking and cycling route opened in 2023 to connect the Marina to Seaton Carew, while 8 other projects are underway to complete in 2026.


Health and social care skills academy

A new academy to create training and employment opportunities in social care and health at The University Hospital of Hartlepool was completed and opened in September 2024, led by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.


Civil engineering skills academy

A new academy on two sites to create vital training and employment opportunities in civil engineering was completed in 2025. Led by Hartlepool College of Further Education and Seymour’s, a new Fabrication and Welding Institute opened at the College in April 2024 and a ‘real life’ training centre in civil engineering was completed and launched in March 2025 at Brenda Road.


The reimagining of the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre

The project will restore the Grade II listed ‘Binns’ Department store building, create impressive new entrance ways to the shopping centre help create a clearly defined mixed heart for the town centre. The project is in the design stage with completion due in 2027.


What is the Town Deal?

Hartlepool was one of 100 towns across England in 2021 invited to develop innovative regeneration plans and submit a Town Investment Plan setting out proposed developments to improve the town and create jobs. As a result, the town secured £25 million through the Government’s Towns Deal initiative.


The Town Deal is aimed at boosting economic growth and unlocking the economic potential of our town and is led by the Hartlepool Town Deal Board. The Board is chaired by Darren Hankey, the Principal of Hartlepool College of Further Education, and comprises representatives of the local public, private and voluntary sectors.



Questions about the Towns Deal

Please feel free to ask the Team any questions about the Towns Deal and its five projects.  We will aim to answer them as quick as we can.

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  • Share What is being built on the land at the junction of fleet avenue and martime opposite the roundabout on Facebook Share What is being built on the land at the junction of fleet avenue and martime opposite the roundabout on Twitter Share What is being built on the land at the junction of fleet avenue and martime opposite the roundabout on Linkedin Email What is being built on the land at the junction of fleet avenue and martime opposite the roundabout link

    What is being built on the land at the junction of fleet avenue and martime opposite the roundabout

    Max asked 17 days ago

    Thank you for your question, this site is not Hartlepool Borough Council’s nor part of the Town Deal programme, and a number of private sector housing developments are coming forward in the local area.

  • Share Regeneration of Lower Church Street and improvement of its connectivity with the Marina. Is there a Critical Path Analysis for the construction works plan ? What is on the critical path ? Where does the refurbishment of the Shades Hotel sit within the construction plan ? After spending a considerable sum of money on the hard landscaping of upper Church Street, and the widening of the pavement of Lower Church Street, one assumes the regeneration completion target of Church Street has a high priority. on Facebook Share Regeneration of Lower Church Street and improvement of its connectivity with the Marina. Is there a Critical Path Analysis for the construction works plan ? What is on the critical path ? Where does the refurbishment of the Shades Hotel sit within the construction plan ? After spending a considerable sum of money on the hard landscaping of upper Church Street, and the widening of the pavement of Lower Church Street, one assumes the regeneration completion target of Church Street has a high priority. on Twitter Share Regeneration of Lower Church Street and improvement of its connectivity with the Marina. Is there a Critical Path Analysis for the construction works plan ? What is on the critical path ? Where does the refurbishment of the Shades Hotel sit within the construction plan ? After spending a considerable sum of money on the hard landscaping of upper Church Street, and the widening of the pavement of Lower Church Street, one assumes the regeneration completion target of Church Street has a high priority. on Linkedin Email Regeneration of Lower Church Street and improvement of its connectivity with the Marina. Is there a Critical Path Analysis for the construction works plan ? What is on the critical path ? Where does the refurbishment of the Shades Hotel sit within the construction plan ? After spending a considerable sum of money on the hard landscaping of upper Church Street, and the widening of the pavement of Lower Church Street, one assumes the regeneration completion target of Church Street has a high priority. link

    Regeneration of Lower Church Street and improvement of its connectivity with the Marina. Is there a Critical Path Analysis for the construction works plan ? What is on the critical path ? Where does the refurbishment of the Shades Hotel sit within the construction plan ? After spending a considerable sum of money on the hard landscaping of upper Church Street, and the widening of the pavement of Lower Church Street, one assumes the regeneration completion target of Church Street has a high priority.

    Fred Hallums asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your questions about both Waterfront Connectivity  which is a project funded under Town Deal, and the project to create a Screen Industries Production Village in and around Church Street which is funded through Levelling Up Fund Round 2. 

    There is a phased programme of works for both projects, which have been approved by government as part of the development of the Green Book Compliant Business Cases and successful funding bids. 

    The connectivity works are already in delivery, and more information can be found on the Waterfront Connectivity page on YourSay including details of completed works to date. 

    The Critical Path Analysis for the Production Village is now in development following final approval of the Council’s funding bid in May, and this will include the full restoration of the Shades Hotel to provide pre and post production facilities. The plan will include acquisition, full design, contractor procurement, repurposing, renovation and redevelopment across a number of properties, and updates will be provided on YourSay at as the project progresses.

  • Share Who are the members of the town deal board on Facebook Share Who are the members of the town deal board on Twitter Share Who are the members of the town deal board on Linkedin Email Who are the members of the town deal board link

    Who are the members of the town deal board

    E.H asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for the question. Information on the Town Deal Board can be found on this dedicated web page including membership https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/homepage/100/hartlepool_town_deal_board_members 


  • Share When will we see the works starting? on Facebook Share When will we see the works starting? on Twitter Share When will we see the works starting? on Linkedin Email When will we see the works starting? link

    When will we see the works starting?

    Fionam asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for the question. Works have already begun in April on the Waterfront Connectivity project (more detail can be found on the project page), the Wesley Chapel redevelopment began in May, while the development of the two new skills Academies will begin in June. The Reimagining Middleton Grange project is a far more complex scheme and is currently at final design stage with works not expected to start until early 2024.

  • Share When will the council do as the people have requested. Do they not work for the people anymore. We don't want public money being spent on private premises unless they are being purchased so we can see a profit otherwise there is no responsibility on the owners to do anything to their premises. If they leave them long enough the council will pay to restore. on Facebook Share When will the council do as the people have requested. Do they not work for the people anymore. We don't want public money being spent on private premises unless they are being purchased so we can see a profit otherwise there is no responsibility on the owners to do anything to their premises. If they leave them long enough the council will pay to restore. on Twitter Share When will the council do as the people have requested. Do they not work for the people anymore. We don't want public money being spent on private premises unless they are being purchased so we can see a profit otherwise there is no responsibility on the owners to do anything to their premises. If they leave them long enough the council will pay to restore. on Linkedin Email When will the council do as the people have requested. Do they not work for the people anymore. We don't want public money being spent on private premises unless they are being purchased so we can see a profit otherwise there is no responsibility on the owners to do anything to their premises. If they leave them long enough the council will pay to restore. link

    When will the council do as the people have requested. Do they not work for the people anymore. We don't want public money being spent on private premises unless they are being purchased so we can see a profit otherwise there is no responsibility on the owners to do anything to their premises. If they leave them long enough the council will pay to restore.

    Fionam asked over 2 years ago

    The only asset being regenerated as part of the Hartlepool Town Deal that is in private ownership is the Wesley Chapel and the restoration costs have a £1.4m ‘viability gap’. This is a common issue with listed and heritage buildings, such as the Grade II listed Wesleyan Chapel and more detail is provided in responses to previous questions. The government has provided the Council with the funding for what is known as the conservation deficit to ensure that the heritage value is protected, the building comes into use, the owners invest £2.5m and project results in 55 full time jobs upon operation.

  • Share Can you please email me the proposed drawings and plans of all these improvements. on Facebook Share Can you please email me the proposed drawings and plans of all these improvements. on Twitter Share Can you please email me the proposed drawings and plans of all these improvements. on Linkedin Email Can you please email me the proposed drawings and plans of all these improvements. link

    Can you please email me the proposed drawings and plans of all these improvements.

    Stuart Finlay asked almost 3 years ago

    Many thanks for the question about all of our Town Deal projects. Our website and individual project pages across 'YourSay' are currently being refreshed with lots of up to date information about how the projects being delivered in partnership with a number of organisations are progressing, and information that can be made publicly available will be shared on these pages in due course.

  • Share I am wanting to know the plans for town centre it self? I work in the centre near B&m is my job safe or are you nocking thst part of the centre down on Facebook Share I am wanting to know the plans for town centre it self? I work in the centre near B&m is my job safe or are you nocking thst part of the centre down on Twitter Share I am wanting to know the plans for town centre it self? I work in the centre near B&m is my job safe or are you nocking thst part of the centre down on Linkedin Email I am wanting to know the plans for town centre it self? I work in the centre near B&m is my job safe or are you nocking thst part of the centre down link

    I am wanting to know the plans for town centre it self? I work in the centre near B&m is my job safe or are you nocking thst part of the centre down

    Bobby asked about 3 years ago

    Hi Lauren, thank you for your question.   The project is the first phase of re-imagining the shopping centre and focuses on removal of the North East wing, bringing the former Binns building back into use.  In this phase no removal or any changes to the remainder of the shopping centre are included. The next stage of this projects development will be looking at lots of options for improving the shopping centre.  All news updates will be posted on our 'Your Say' portal, so please regularly check on this system.

  • Share Hi my question is are you nocking down near B&m, macdolads in in the town centre as I work near b8m and worried if I still will have a job or not on Facebook Share Hi my question is are you nocking down near B&m, macdolads in in the town centre as I work near b8m and worried if I still will have a job or not on Twitter Share Hi my question is are you nocking down near B&m, macdolads in in the town centre as I work near b8m and worried if I still will have a job or not on Linkedin Email Hi my question is are you nocking down near B&m, macdolads in in the town centre as I work near b8m and worried if I still will have a job or not link

    Hi my question is are you nocking down near B&m, macdolads in in the town centre as I work near b8m and worried if I still will have a job or not

    Lauren asked about 3 years ago

    Hi Lauren, thank you for your question. The project is the first phase of re-imagining the shopping centre and focuses on removal of the North East wing, bringing the former Binns building back into use, but in Phase 1 no removal or any changes to the remainder of the shopping centre are included.  Far from jobs being lost, the project is about protecting existing jobs and creating new ones in a more vibrant town centre. High vacancy rates and empty units mean we want to change the footprint of the north east corner of the centre and encourage new and different uses in to the town, and improve the experience people have and increase the numbers using the existing centre.  All news updates will be posted on our 'Your Say' portal, so please regularly check on this system.

  • Share The Town Centre and Wesley Chapel are privately owned. Why are you using our money to improve these things? They can sell later at a profit. on Facebook Share The Town Centre and Wesley Chapel are privately owned. Why are you using our money to improve these things? They can sell later at a profit. on Twitter Share The Town Centre and Wesley Chapel are privately owned. Why are you using our money to improve these things? They can sell later at a profit. on Linkedin Email The Town Centre and Wesley Chapel are privately owned. Why are you using our money to improve these things? They can sell later at a profit. link

    The Town Centre and Wesley Chapel are privately owned. Why are you using our money to improve these things? They can sell later at a profit.

    Robert J asked over 3 years ago

    Hi Robert

    Thanks for your question, we have provided responses to a series of similar questions on the Wesley Chapel page of Your Say, which can be found here:

    https://yoursay.hartlepool.gov.uk/admin/projects/wesleychapel/qanda 

    Many thanks

  • Share If we regenerate the town centre, how are we going to fill the units? The price of rentals are far to high for buisnesses now, so in new builds it will be far more expensive and in the end it will be the same with empty units and a ghost shopping centre. on Facebook Share If we regenerate the town centre, how are we going to fill the units? The price of rentals are far to high for buisnesses now, so in new builds it will be far more expensive and in the end it will be the same with empty units and a ghost shopping centre. on Twitter Share If we regenerate the town centre, how are we going to fill the units? The price of rentals are far to high for buisnesses now, so in new builds it will be far more expensive and in the end it will be the same with empty units and a ghost shopping centre. on Linkedin Email If we regenerate the town centre, how are we going to fill the units? The price of rentals are far to high for buisnesses now, so in new builds it will be far more expensive and in the end it will be the same with empty units and a ghost shopping centre. link

    If we regenerate the town centre, how are we going to fill the units? The price of rentals are far to high for buisnesses now, so in new builds it will be far more expensive and in the end it will be the same with empty units and a ghost shopping centre.

    Paul Stockdale asked over 3 years ago

    Thanks for the email Paul, there are no new retail units being built as part of this Phase 1 under Towns Deal with the project focusing on bringing the former Binns Building back into use, removing the north east wing and creating public realm with improved accessibility

Page last updated: 01 Jul 2025, 01:43 PM