Nearly 100 New Homes Approved in Hartlepool After Three-Year Delay – Despite Local Objections..

The development on land north of Wynyard Woods on the outskirts of Hartlepool

£1m Affordable Housing Deal Clears the Way for Controversial Wynyard Plan

21st November 2025

A further 97 homes have finally been approved for development almost three years after the original plans were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council – and despite more than ten objections lodged by concerned residents.

Duchy Homes first applied to the council back in June 2022, seeking full planning permission for the construction of 97 dwellinghouses (Class C3) alongside associated access, landscaping, and infrastructure. This week, council officials quietly signed off on the proposals, paving the way for yet another major expansion of the Wynyard area.

Documents seen by The Teesside & Durham Post show that Hartlepool Borough Council was 'supportive' of the plans as part of phase two of the Wynyard Garden Village – approval which is still conditional on an almost £1 million off-site affordable housing contribution. This means that instead of building affordable homes onsite, the developer will reportedly make a financial payment to the council to satisfy planning requirements.

Backed by planning consultants Lichfields, its claimed the new development will include a range of medium- and low-density homes, from one-storey bungalows to three-storey properties. According to the developer, this is intended to cater for a “broad mix of households”, with the nine-acre site sitting just north of the A689, within the wider Wynyard Park boundaries.

Concerns From Residents Brushed Aside

Despite Hartlepool Borough Council this week giving the plans the go-ahead, the development has not been without controversy, its claimed a total of 11 objections were submitted, primarily raising concerns over the size and scale of the proposed properties, The Increased pressure on already struggling road networks, The overbearing nature of constant expansion in Wynyard & Fears the area is becoming increasingly imbalanced in favour of large executive housing...

Some residents argued that Hartlepool’s infrastructure is being stretched to breaking point, with road access, school capacity, and community services struggling to keep pace with rapid development.

A Familiar Pattern...

For many locals, the decision will feel like déjà vu – another major development approved, another round of local objections overlooked, and another hefty financial contribution accepted in place of on-site affordable homes.

As Hartlepool and the surrounding Wynyard continue to expand, questions remain over whether this level of housing growth is sustainable, and whether local voices are being taken seriously in the planning process or simply being brushed to one side, in the favour of 'wealthy developers' where money does the talking !