Car Dealership's Battle with HBC Over Roller Shutter Door Heads to the Governments Inspectorate for Appeal...

The Car Dealership in Hartlepool's Oxford Rd was refused retrospective planning permission for works it carried out on the building & faces enforcement action by the local council, however HBC Exposed understands the proposals are now set to go to an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

3rd December 2024

A car dealership in Hartlepool which was refused planning permission for the installation of a roller shutter door that they'd already had fitted is reportedly taking the fight to the Planning Inspectorate after Hartlepool Borough Council rejected their retrospective planning application at a council committee in October this year.

H Tones, located on Oxford Road, had installed the roller shutter door without prior approval, only to see their application denied during an October council planning committee meeting. Council officials were then said to have served the business with an enforcement notice demanding the building be restored to its original specifications.

Councillors expressed concerns that the roller shutter door could worsen congestion and parking issues on a nearby road, creating potential hazards for traffic flow and road safety. After deliberating the matter at a council planning meeting, councillors firmly rejected the dealership's application, signalling what was claimed to be "their commitment to safeguarding public safety".

Following the decision, Hartlepool Borough Council then escalated the matter to enforcement, with Tony Hanson, the council’s Director of Regeneration & Neighbourhoods, reportedly authorising formal enforcement action to be taken, following claims the dealership had failed to comply with earlier requests to undo the alterations.

Documents seen by HBC Exposed today now reveal that the business has formally appealed the council's decision, opting to bring the case before the government's Planning Inspectorate. This move could see the Inspectorate effectively override Hartlepool Borough Council's original ruling

The appeal, submitted on December 3, 2024, is said to be under review, with a final decision expected between February and March 2025.