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Hartlepool’s Headland set for £4.65m affordable housing regeneration

A derelict grade II listed building on Hartlepool’s Headland is set to be transformed into affordable housing in a £4.65m regeneration programme.

Housing Hartlepool is spearheading the project to rescue the Friarage Manor House with support from Hartlepool Council.

Housing Hartlepool, part of the Thirteen Group, is to convert the building into four apartments, with another 34 new-build houses and apartments planned for the surrounding area. The majority of the homes will be for older people.

Work on the development, by Galliford Try Partnerships North East, has begun and is expected to be completed by May 2016. The homes will provide an affordable option for local people looking for rented accommodation.

The Henry Smiths Educational and Non-Educational Trusts and the Council have been very generous in their support, without which the scheme could not proceed.

The regeneration project has also attracted interest from the Heritage Skills Apprenticeship Project, which is an initiative aimed at improving access to qualified conservation workers. The scheme offers the chance for an apprentice to gain experience in specialist historic building renovation.

The Manor House is on the site of a former Franciscan Friarage established in around 1240. Later it became a wing of the Friarage Hospital, which was demolished in 1987. Since then the building has been unused and has been slowly deteriorating.

Martin Hawthorne, Director of Development and Regeneration for Thirteen, the parent company of Housing Hartlepool, said: “For many years the Friarage has sat unoccupied, which is a real shame. It has so much potential and it’s great to finally have in place a long-term use for the building and surrounding land.

“The parties involved have been extremely accommodating and clearly want what is best for the area. Upon completion the development will boast 38 new-build houses and apartments that will be offered to potential tenants at 20% less than market rent.”

Damien Wilson, Assistant Director (Regeneration) at Hartlepool Council, said: “Bringing the Friarage Manor House back into use has been a long-term regeneration priority of the Council and I am delighted that work to bring about its transformation is about to start.

“The project is a great example of partnership working between all interested parties, and it is set to play a key role in providing much-needed affordable homes for local people.”

Stephen McCoy, Managing Director with Galliford Try Partnerships North, added: “We are delighted to have been selected to work on this exciting project which will bring an iconic building back into valuable use and also provide much needed quality housing for local people.”

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