New Pizza Restaurant Planned for Hartlepool Marina, as Major Investment Moves Forward..

The unit, located at Hartlepool's Maritime Point is set to undergo significant refurbishment.

Vacant Hartlepool Marina Unit Set for Major Investment Under New Restaurant Proposals submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council...

27th December 2025

A vacant commercial unit located at Navigation Point, on Hartlepool's Marina could be set to be brought back into use under new proposals submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council with plans for an artisan pizza restaurant and bar that the applicant claims will deliver jobs, investment and increased footfall to the Marina area.

The application seeks advertisement consent, shopfront alterations and the installation of a new flue and extraction system to allow the premises to operate as a food-led hospitality venue. The proposals have been formally supported by a detailed planning statement prepared by design consultants acting on behalf of the applicant, DAAJ Ltd.

Bringing a Long-Vacant Unit Back into Use

The premises occupy an end-unit position close to Middleton Road on the Hartlepool Marina, an area already characterised by food, drink and leisure uses at ground floor level, with residential apartments above. Despite this, the unit has been vacant for a significant period, contributing little to the local economy.

The proposed development would see the unit fully refurbished and reoccupied, addressing long-term vacancy and reintegrating the space into the Marina’s leisure offer. The applicant has reportedly committed to a long-term lease of approximately ten years, signalling an intention for sustained operation rather than short-term occupation.

Navigation Point in Hartlepool has a number of mixed commercial units currently in use, however Parking charges introduced by landowners has left the area a challenging place to set up business..

As part of the plans, the existing shopfront — described in the planning statement as outdated — would be replaced with modern aluminium bi-folding doors finished in anthracite grey. These changes are intended to improve accessibility, thermal performance and visual appearance while remaining consistent with neighbouring commercial units.

New signage is also proposed on the existing fascia, designed to reflect the restaurant’s branding without dominating the street scene, with the stated aim of avoiding excessive visual impact in what is already a mixed commercial and residential environment.

Given the food-led nature of the business, the application includes the installation of a flue and extraction system to support kitchen operations. According to the planning statement, this system would incorporate odour control, filtration and noise mitigation measures, and would be positioned discreetly to limit its visual presence.

The document explicitly states that the proposals have been designed to avoid harm to neighbouring residential units, which occupy the upper floors above the commercial frontage — a frequent concern in planning applications brought in this particular area where there's a heavy mix of commercial & residential properties.

Economic Impact and Local Jobs

The most substantial element of the submission relates to economic and regeneration benefits in an area that's exceptionally 'challenging' to set up business in. The restaurant would operate under the Stone Fired Pizza brand, an established operator with five existing locations in Edinburgh. The Hartlepool outlet is presented as a considered expansion rather than a speculative start-up in an area where the number of small business going bust within three years is significantly higher than the national average...

The applicant estimates an investment well into six figures, much of which would be spent using Hartlepool-based trades and contractors during refurbishment. Once operational, the business is expected to create 10–15 local jobs, including management, part-time and entry-level roles.

Opening hours are proposed from 09:00 to 23:00, seven days a week, aligning with existing Marina businesses, with the planning statement arguing that this would not introduce activity beyond levels already typical for the area.

A Key Test for the Council’s Approach to Regeneration

The planning application will be a key test of the councils approach to regeneration & job creation in an area already struggling to survive, with a number of small business ventures in the same area failing...

At a time when Hartlepool Borough Council frequently speaks about regeneration, inward investment and reducing vacant commercial units, the application presents a practical test of those priorities.

The proposal involves private investment, job creation, reuse of an empty unit and an established operator willing to commit to the town long-term.

Whether Hartlepool Borough Council supports the scheme will likely be a one closely watched by both local businesses and residents, particularly given past criticism over planning consistency and economic decision-making at the Marina.

A decision on the plans is expected sometime around February 2026