Former Odeon Cinema Site in Hartlepool Goes on Sale for £495,000, Clashing with Community Park Plans
- teessidetoday
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 2
The site went on the market only recently, however the proposed use of the land contradicts the plans already mooted for the site by the Hartlepool Development Corporation...
29th August 2025
In a move that's set to stir debate over the Hartlepool Development Corporations plans for Hartlepool, The Teesside & Durham Post can now Exclusively Reveal that the site of the former Odeon Cinema on Raby Road has now been listed for sale for almost half a million pounds.
The piece of land, now vacant after the demolition of the Grade II Listed building, is being marketed "as a major development opportunity". However, the proposed plans for residential and commercial units on the now levelled site are likely to throw a wrench into the Hartlepool Development Corporation's earlier visions for the area, which reportedly included transforming the site into a community park.
The Former Odeon Cinema, a Grade II listed building, stood as a cultural landmark in Hartlepool for decades until tragedy struck back in October 2024, when an arson attack caused extensive structural damage, rendering the building so structurally unsafe, it led to its eventual demolition earlier this year.
The site, said to be spanning 0.37 acres, now sits empty and ready for redevelopment, clearing the way for new projects—but not without controversy. The Proposed Development: Housing and Retail in the Heart of Town, Local estate agents Parker Barras are now said to be handling the sale, promoting the land as a "Development Opportunity".
Whilst its claimed full planning permission has not yet been granted, the proposal's for re-development of the site have reportedly received "a positive pre-application response" from the HDC, signalling potential approval down the line, contradicting previous plans mooted by the Development Corporation as part of its wider plans for the regeneration of both Hartlepool's Raby Road & the Town Centre Area..
The envisioned project is said to be a three- or four-storey building that balances commercial and residential needs. On the ground floor, four commercial units would provide space for businesses, while the upper floors would house 19 residential apartments: 10 one-bedroom units and 9 two-bedroom units. This setup reportedly aims to address Hartlepool's pressing demand for additional housing, where its claimed supply has struggled to keep pace with local needs.
Beyond the claimed regeneration perks, the marketing agents claim that the land offers excellent accessibility, surrounded by key amenities, including Hartlepool Football Club, Morrisons, Asda, and the Anchor Retail Park.
Clashing Visions: Development vs. Green Space
Whilst the proposal's are said to align with Hartlepool's broader view of regeneration, it's likely to ignite clashes with the Hartlepool Development Corporation's broader strategy for the Raby Road area of the town. Previously mooted plans for the former cinema site centered on the creation of a community park—a green oasis that would serve as a public gathering space, promoting leisure and environmental benefits in line with the regeneration zone's sustainability goals. This shift towards private residential and commercial developments openly & directly contradicts with those earlier plans. A community park would have prioritised public access and open space, fostering a sense of communal ownership in the town's renewal.
Instead, the sale of the land and proposed build could privatise the land, potentially limiting public benefits and altering the character of area. Critics argue this move undermines the HDC's holistic approach to reshaping Hartlepool, which emphasises a balanced growth rather than prioritising high-density housing. The alleged "positive pre-application response", which the Teesside & Durham Post has not been able to confirm adds yet another intriguing layer to the mystery—suggesting the HDC may, in fact be totally unaware of the proposed sale of the land, or simply open to compromise on the wider plans for the site—but it doesn't erase the potential for pushback from locals and stakeholders who favoured the park concept.
What’s Next for Hartlepool’s Regeneration?
As the site hits the market, all eyes are set to be on how this unfolds.
Will the development proceed, bringing potentially much-needed homes and businesses to the area?
Or will community voices rally to revive the park proposal?
For now, the £495,000 price tag represents not just about a proposed development opportunity, but a pivotal moment in Hartlepool's ongoing transformation & whether the Hartlepool Development Corporations plans for Hartlepool are all beginning to unravel, as the gravity of what they've taken on board begins to sink in !
