Town Deal: Wesley Chapel Redevelopment

Thank you for your question, and yes the complex restoration of the Wesley Chapel began in May 2023, is progressing well and its completion as a boutique hospitality venue is expected to be completed in late summer of 2025.

Thank you for the question and the really valuable suggestion about ensuring the venue acknowledges the importance of its heritage, history and importance to the town. We are working very closely with Jomast on all aspects of the project and while they will be responsible for the interior fit out and appearance we will of course liaise with them to ensure that the buildings history is recognised as prominently as possible

Thank you for your interest Neil. While the Council is supporting the development of the Wesley Chapel through Town Deal, as the developer and operator Jomast will be responsible for all internal furnishings and not the Council.

Many thanks for your question regarding the Wesley Chapel. While there are vacant units in the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, the commercial units developed will be of a very different offer, and the business case for the Wesley Chapel redevelopment is based on a number of viable elements including bars, restaurants, hospitality hire and event accommodation. This provides a very strong economic case to meet a demand that we know exists from the comprehensive market studies.

Hi, thank you for the question, and yes there are some huge benefits to this partnership project. Firstly, at operation there will be 55 full time employees which is a huge boost for the town. Secondly, we are working with Jomast Developments who have committed a Procurement and Employment Management Plan which includes preference to local residents for any new direct employment opportunities, proactive recruitment locally, creating new apprenticeships for local people and ensuring support for local SME’s to have the opportunity to quote for all aspects of the build through to completion.

Thank you for the question, the complex project now has now been approved to progress by the government's Dept. For Levelling Up Communities and Housing (who are externally funding the conservation deficit element of the scheme), and early works will begin imminently. 

Thank you for your comments, the business case approved by the Council's Finance and Policy Committee, demonstrates that joint investment between the buildings owners and external Town Deal grant funding is the most appropriate model to ensure that this heritage asset is brought back into use, with a significant benefit cost ratio to the town. We look forward to sharing the images of the proposed redevelopment, which we agree, will bring the stunning frontage of the building back into prominence.

Thank you for the question, any representations relating to the planning application can be found on the Council's planning portal against the application reference, by searching here https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20222/planning/380/search_for_a_pla 

The Council is working in partnership with the owners to ensure this heritage asset is brought back into use. The owners are funding the redevelopment while the Council has secured external funding via the Towns Deal to fund the conservation deficit on the property, more information on which can be found in responses to previous questions, and not using council tax.

Thank you for the question, please see earlier responses including those on 10 September which respond in detail on why the Council is using external funding to fund the conservation deficit on the building to enable the project to proceed and save the heritage asset, while the owner will funds the majority of the costs.