Ward Surgery Hears Mixed Views on Planned Holiday Park at Domes Site at former Hartlepool Sports Domes Site

The 10 acre plot of land, formally home to the Sports Domes could be brought back into use as a Holiday Village

Ward Surgery Said to have received Mixed Views on Planned Holiday Park at Domes Site, as Developers Face Questions from Seaton Carew Residents..

17th Jan 2026

Residents living close to a proposed new holiday village had the opportunity this week to directly question developers and air their concerns over the proposals planned for the former Sports Domes site in Seaton Carew, following what's said to have been a 'well-attended' Ward Surgery session.

The meeting, gave local people the chance to engage openly on a development that could significantly change the character of the area with the session allowing nearby residents to speak candidly about the issues they faced with the proposed development in a public forum.

In the meeting held this week, its claimed developers were frank, honest, and largely upfront about the proposed use of the site, where a number of concerns had been raised by local residents, particularly around the long-term use of the site, with questions raised around whether the holiday park could, over time, drift into becoming a residential development or be used for “respite” accommodation rather than short-term holiday lets.

At the meeting, Its claimed the Developers responded directly to these points, providing reassurances and outlining how the site would be controlled and managed. While their answers were generally received positively, many residents made it clear that reassurance alone is not enough, with the prevailing view that the community would reserve final judgement on the plans when they're now likely to be put before a council planning committee after meeting the required number of objections for the proposals to be put before a public hearing.

One of the most sensitive issues discussed reportedly come from residents of De Havilland Way, a housing estate located just a short distance away from the proposed development, particularly those whose homes currently overlook the former derelict Sports Domes site, with concerns raised over the close proximity of fencing and scale of the development in proximity to their homes, with the developers responding to the concerns by stating they're willing to work with local residents to explore ways to mitigate the impact, including adjusting or “tweaking” elements of the plans where possible to better accommodate neighbouring households.

Its either this.... Or A Derelict Site !

The site has reportedly become a target for vandalism & ASB since the collapse of the Sports Domes Business several years go

The plans submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council last year propose transforming the long-neglected former Sports Domes site in Seaton Carew into a new holiday park branded the “Seaton Holiday Village.” The application seeks outline permission to develop up to 60 static holiday lodges on the near 10-acre site, alongside associated infrastructure including a new access road, guest and staff parking, on-site leisure and hospitality facilities such as a bar, restaurant and function suite, and extensive landscaping intended to screen the development from neighbouring properties.

The developers have stated that the intention is to create a year-round tourism destination that addresses vandalism, fly-tipping, and unauthorised use that have blighted the site since the Domes’ closure.

However, the proposals are already said to have attracted considerable local opposition, where, as of late 2025, at least eleven formal objections and just one single letter of support had been submitted to the council, automatically triggering requirements for the application to be considered by a planning committee likely to be held later this year, rather than being decided solely by officers.

Objections from local residents centre on concerns about increased traffic, the appropriateness of a holiday village next to the nearby landfill (where foul odours and litter have been longstanding issues), and broader questions about whether the development truly serves local needs.

Planning officials had been expected to make a decision on the site sometime in the spring of 2026, however expectations of the plans being decided much later in the year now appear to be likely given the significant public interest in the plans.