Historic Places Panel Visits Hartlepool
On 22 and 23 November, Hartlepool Borough Council welcomed a team of national experts on the regeneration of historic cities and towns. The Historic Places Panel, assembled by Historic England, was invited by the Council to provide advice on developing the town’s cultural, creative and tourism industries.
The Panel was welcomed to the town by Sarah Scarr, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Head of Heritage & Open Spaces, at The Town Wall. They then went on to the town centre and waterfront to meet representatives from the Council including Tony Hanson, Director of Development, Neighbourhoods & Regulatory Services; Helen Kemp from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Maxine Craig, vice chair of the Hartlepool Town Deal Board.
They visited Church Street, one of the most historic parts of town, which has great potential to boost the local economy. They also visited the waterfront area to see the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the site of the proposed High Light leisure centre. The panel discussed regeneration opportunities that could help restore and build on Hartlepool’s special historic character and grow the creative and visitor economies.
The panel were hugely impressed by extraordinary range of historic sites in close proximity to the centre of Hartlepool as well as the energy and commitment in the borough council and mayoral development corporation to progress regeneration based on these. We will focus in our report on ways to support delivery of positive results.
