Former Admiral Court Care Home Finally Set for Demolition After a Decade of Blight...
- teessidetoday
- Nov 1
- 3 min read
The former care how which has been stood vacant for over a decade & repeatedly targeted by vandals & arson attacks potentially set to be demolished, as council officials admit "They've had enough"....
1st November 2025
After more than ten years of vandalism, arson, fly-tipping and community frustration, The Teesside & Durham Post has now seen evidence to show that the former Admiral Court care home on Cleveland Road is finally on the brink of being demolished – a move that many residents will see as long overdue.
The former care home in Hartlepool, just a short distance from the towns Headland has stood abandoned for over a decade, gradually becoming one of Hartlepool’s most notorious eyesores, with repeated arson attacks and chronic vandalism leaving the building in a significantly dangerous state, where, despite numerous complaints, the derelict structure has remained a source of anger for nearby residents who have continually demanded action.
Application to Demolish the Building Received
The Teesside & Durham Post understands that Hartlepool Borough Council has now submitted a prior-notification application to demolish the derelict building after Council officials reportedly admitted that they've “had enough”, signalling a major shift in tone by council officials after years of unsuccessful attempts to get the landowners to secure or redevelop the site.
A Decade of Decay and Disruption
The care home fell into disrepair more than ten years ago, and soon became a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Council efforts to trace the legal owner of the land proved unsuccessful, creating a stalemate situation while the building deteriorated and public safety concerns mounted.
Around four years ago, a major effort to secure the site reportedly cost local taxpayers around £10,000. The Council subsequently secured a charging order against the land through the Land Registry to recoup the costs should ownership change hands or the land be sold. But it wasn’t enough to stop the cycle.
Despite temporary boarding and fencing, the building once again became insecure. The previous company believed to own the site later dissolved, reportedly following a criminal investigation into money-laundering – complicating any enforcement efforts and leaving residents stuck with a derelict structure no-one would take responsibility for.
Council Forced to Step In
Last year, Hartlepool Borough Council issued a formal four-month notice to the landowners, ordering them to either secure the site or demolish it. With no response and no action taken, the Council has now stepped in themselves, initiating the process to bring the building down.
The plans seen by one of our reporters includes not only demolition of the now crumbling building, but securing and levelling the land to prevent further trespassing, dumping, or danger to the public.
Who Will Foot the Bill?
It remains unclear as to whether local taxpayers will ultimately bear the cost of the demolition, or whether the Council has managed to assume full legal control of the land in order to recover funds in future. However, many residents will simply be relieved that something is finally being done. The site’s condition has long been a point of frustration in the area – a stark reminder of how abandoned properties can spiral into blight and public hazard when enforcement options are limited.
A Fresh Start for a Scarred Site
Once demolished, the cleared land could pave the way for potential housing redevelopment – bringing an end to what many have described as a decade-old scar on the town.
While the community will likely question why it took so long, its said that there's at least some glimmer of hope. Demolition may not undo the years of neglect, but it sends a powerful message that Hartlepool will no longer tolerate long-term dereliction and disregard for public safety.
