Swimming Pool Plans Recommended for Refusal Again, When Councillors Meet at an Upcoming Planning Committee

Revised plans, coming nearly a year since the first application was refused by Hartlepool Borough Council are being recommended to be refused once more, when the plans are once again put before the councils Planning Committee next week.

6th March 2025

Plans for the change of use of a private swimming pool for public use are expected to be thrown out when councillors meet next week, after Hartlepool Borough Council's planning department is said to have recommended the plans be refused mirroring the reasons cited nearly a year ago when the councillors rejected similar proposals.....

Miss Suzanne Yorke was looking to turn her home swimming pool at The Paddock, in Hartlepool's Seaton Carew, into a private hire facility. This following a similar rejection of plans submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council back in April 2024 (H/2023/0344).

The property reportedly has had approvals by the local council for a number of home improvements in the past, but last year’s plan to open the pool to the public were eventually turned down following a number of local objections, with Hartlepool Borough Council previously ruling that the opening the pool for public use would disrupt the quiet neighbourhood with too much noise and activity. The new revised application reportedly attempts to fix some of those issues—such as moving parking to the back and cutting back the operational hours—but HBC Exposed understands Council Planning Officers still aren't convinced on the proposals & have recommended the plans once again be refused.

What’s Been Proposed

Miss Yorke wants to let up to five people at a time rent her indoor swimming pool for things like swim classes or baby sessions. The plans stated that a ramp would be installed, as well as a changing area and better bathroom constructed to facilitate the new use of the swimming pool.

It’d be open between 07:30-18:30 daily, with bookings online and breaks during busy school times. She’s also said to have been offering three car parking spots at the back, accessed from nearby Crawford Street.

But once again, it's claimed the plans have attracted a number of objections to the plans from the local community, with council officers said to be 'unconvinced' the plans are an improvement on the previous refused proposals which were turned down last time, with noise & disruption, parking & it being simply the wrong place to start such a business all being the factors which have led to the council recommending to councillors when they meet next week to refuse the application outright.

Last year’s plans were said to have been rejected by the council because of noise, activity, and parking troubles, The latest application proposed the parking would be moved to the back, the hours made shorter, and booking gaps. But the Council says these tweaks simply don’t fix the big issues: & it’s still too disruptive for a residential street.

Public Reaction

Ten people reportedly commented on the most recent proposals: four being against (worried about parking, noise, and traffic), & six in support (liking the fitness and inclusivity idea). With the objections said to be matching the Council’s concerns.

The latest recommendation for refusal from Hartlepool Borough Council shows HBC's seems to be sticking to its guns on the matter, whereby, even with changes, they believe opening the pool to the public doesn’t fit a quiet neighbourhood & that the recommendation for refusal is all about keeping the area calm and residential, & not turning it into a business spot.

Councillors will meet to decide on the proposals on the 12th March 2025 at Hartlepool Civic Centre...