Housing Developer issued with Enforcement Notice by Local Council

The site on land near High Tunstall, Hartlepool

Developers reportedly warned they're risking potential prosecution if two enforcement notices relating to the construction of homes on a town site is not remedied within a month....

10th Feb 2025

Hartlepool Borough Council has reportedly issued two enforcement notices to a local developer for allegedly breaching planning conditions related to working hours on the site and the failure to submit a valid Construction Management Plan.

HBC Exposed understands that Duchy Homes, currently developing a large housing estate on land south of High Tunstall—just off Elwick Road—was served with an enforcement notice in early February 2025. This come after council officials, using special officer-delegated powers, sought approval to take enforcement action following a series of complaints.

The notice approved by Tony Hanson, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Director of Neighbourhoods & Regeneration, states:

“The developer’s assistance has been sought in seeking to remedy the identified breach of planning control. The developer’s actions have not resulted in a remedy. The local planning authority is therefore required to consider the expediency of taking enforcement proceedings in order to remedy the breach.”

Whilst specific details about the two separate enforcement notices remain undisclosed, HBC Exposed understands they relate to a previously approved application for the construction of approximately 160 homes on the site.

One of the key conditions—Condition 29—required the developer to submit and obtain approval of a Construction Management Plan before starting each phase of the project.

It is believed that the alleged working hours breach stems from the failure to submit a valid Construction Management Plan, raising further concerns about compliance with planning conditions.

The developer has reportedly been given one month to comply with the enforcement notice, which could lead to the developers facing prosecution, if the notices arent complied with before the 7th March 2025 deadline....