Proposals for Sixteen Student Apartments on site of former Adult Entertainment Venue set to be discussed by local Development Corporation....

A Local businessman is looking to redevelop the former site of an Adult Entertainment Venue as student accommodation, following an upsurge in demand.

27th November 2024

Plans for the change of use of a building formally used as an adult entertainment venue are set to be decided upon by the Hartlepool Development Corporation in proposals which are being made in a bid to bring the building back into use as apartments.

The applicant Scott Borthwick, has applied to the Hartlepool Development Corporation for permission to change the use on the building 18 Whitby Street, which lies within the authority of the recently established Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC) from its former use, known locally as "The little black book" into sixteen self contained student apartments along with external alterations, as well as the installation of a number of solar panels on the roof..

According to the proposals submitted to the HDC, the plans are said to be in part supporting the Northern School of Arts (NSA), efforts to accommodate increased student intake following their anticipated attainment of university status on the Hartlepool Campus by 2025.

The conversion of the former adult entertainment venue into student apartments is said to directly support the growth of the institution, helping to regenerate the area in line with the ongoing creative industries plans, including the Northern Film and TV Studios and the recently funded Production Village.

The applicant went on to state that "we believe that residential accommodation is much more in keeping with the growth of the area, than continuing the delivery of the current use that of a an adult entertainment club".

Its anticipated that a decision on the proposals is likely to be made on or around the 18th December 2024....