Hartlepool Borough Council Consults on Major Changes to its Planning Policy...
- teessidetoday
- 1 day ago
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New Planning Rules Could Reshape Housing and Development in Hartlepool, With Developers Potentially Told they'll Have to Contribute More to Local Communities.
8th Jan 2026
Hartlepool Borough Council has launched a public consultation on a draft update to its Planning Obligations Supplementary Document (SPD), a key policy that determines what developers must contribute when new housing or commercial developments are approved.
The revised SPD would replace the now 'outdated' 2015 version where, if adopted, will become a material consideration in deciding planning applications across the borough. In practical terms, it means planning permission on new developments could be refused if developers do not comply with the updated requirements, with Hartlepool Borough Council says it is now welcoming views from residents, developers and other stakeholders before finalising the document.
What Are Planning Obligations?
Planning obligations, commonly known as Section 106 agreements, are legally binding agreements between developers and the council. They are used where a development would otherwise be unacceptable unless measures are put in place to offset its impact.
These obligations can require developers to:
Provide affordable housing
Fund or deliver highway improvements
Contribute to schools and education places
Pay towards play parks, sports facilities and green spaces
Support community facilities and local infrastructure
They're intended to ensure that new developments do not overload existing services and that growth is paid for, at least in part, by those who profit from it.
According to Hartlepool Borough Council, the existing SPD is now a decade old and no longer reflects current costs or policy requirements.
The draft SPD proposes to Update all contribution figures to reflect inflation since 2015, using Office for National Statistics construction cost indices, as well as aligning the guidance with the Hartlepool Local Plan (2018) and national planning policy. The new SPD also proposed to provide greater clarity on what developers will be expected to pay, and when, with the updated figures meaning developers face significantly higher financial contributions per dwelling than whats under the current rules.
Planning Focus will Shift to Affordable Housing:
One of the most significant elements of the draft SPD is its approach to affordable housing.
Under the new proposals, Developments of 15 or more homes in most of the borough would be required to deliver 18% affordable housing. In rural areas areas, the threshold drops to 6 dwellings. Affordable homes will be expected to be provided on-site, unless a developer can robustly justify why this is not possible & where on-site provision is not agreed, developers would be required to pay substantial commuted sums instead
The SPD also expands on the use of Discount Market Sale Housing, a form of “affordable” housing where homes are sold at a discount but remain privately owned, with eligibility tightly controlled through legal agreements.
More Contributions, From Smaller Developments
Most developments, consisting of five or more dwellings will be expected to contribute towards:
Built sports facilities
Play facilities
Outdoor sports provision
Importantly, Hartlepool Borough Council has stated that it will now no longer tolerate site splitting or 'phased developments' designed to avoid contributions, with smaller schemes set to be 'caught', if they form part of a wider development area.
While the council acknowledges that development viability is a consideration, the draft SPD puts the burden firmly on developers to justify any reduction in their financial obligations, with a failure to agree to the councils potential revised planning obligations likely to result in developers seeing their applications refused outright.
Have Your Say
The council has confirmed that plans are already proposed as a draft document and that feedback from members of the public will be considered before a final version is then put to councillors for adoption later in the year.
The consultation can be viewed at the following link:
