High-occupancy homes sparks backlash in major Hartlepool waterfront row...
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Jomast housing revamp faces mass opposition at Hartlepool Development Corporation
20th Feb 2026
A controversial redesign of a flagship Hartlepool marina housing scheme has triggered a wave of public opposition, with dozens of residents warning that the new plans could fundamentally alter the character of the area and open the door to future high-intensity accommodation.
Planning papers set to go before the Hartlepool Development Corporation reveal that 59 letters of objection have been submitted against the latest application by developer Jomast to vary an already-approved scheme at land off Maritime Avenue, Fleet Avenue and Mainsforth Terrace..
The application doesn't increase the overall number of homes previously approved, but it radically changes the housing mix, replacing two- and three-bedroom properties with a concentration of large four-bedroom, three-storey houses capable of accommodating up to eight occupants.
Residents have warned that the shift risks creating what they describe as an over-intensive development that is out of keeping with the surrounding neighbourhood and could lead to future use as HMOs or serviced accommodation.
Fears over density, and community impact
Objectors argue the revised plans conflict with Local Plan housing mix policies and would introduce a level of activity inconsistent with the established residential character of the marina. Concerns raised in formal representations include increased pressure on parking, higher noise levels, greater waste generation and the potential erosion of community cohesion if the larger properties are used for multi-occupancy living. There's also been calls for a planning condition to restrict the homes to standard family use in order to prevent future conversion without full planning permission.
The site has a long planning history dating back to 2003, when consent was originally granted for a large mixed-use development including housing, offices, retail, care and education facilities. Only a small portion of that scheme was ever built, with the 2008 financial crisis leading to the original vision becoming unviable.
A revised permission granted in 2025 allowed for 155 houses and 230 apartments across several plots, with the current proposal affecting only the parcel known as Site 7.
New permission — even if refused the old one still stands
The application has been submitted under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act, a legal mechanism that allows developers to vary conditions on an existing consent.
Planning officers confirm that if the variation were to be refused, the developer would still retain the original permission and could build that scheme instead, a reality that significantly limits the practical power of a refusal.
Design changes and taller homes
The re-design set to go before the development corporation introduces taller three-storey houses to respond to the surrounding six-storey apartment blocks and to create what planners describe as a stronger street presence, while the waterfront apartment buildings will be slightly higher to meet modern energy efficiency standards. If approved, it will result in the issue of an entirely new planning permission, with the existing Section 106 agreement — including affordable housing obligations — transferring across to the revised scheme.
For residents who have lodged objections, however, the central issue remains unchanged: whether the marina is being shaped by a planning strategy that reflects local needs or by a succession of developer-led revisions to long-standing consents.
