A DESIGNER has been chosen to create a £1.4m town square in the region.
The new town square at Hartlepool's Headland will be designed by Middlesbrough company Ferguson McIlveen.
Stuart Drummond, Hartlepool mayor, and members of the North Hartlepool Partnership, selected the design from a shortlist of four.
It was also voted the public's favourite in a consultation exercise involving 270 people.
The proposals are for the redesign of the area in front of the Borough Buildings between Middlegate, the Promenade, St Hilda's Church and Northgate.
Main highlights of the Ferguson McIlveen proposal include the creation of three open spaces. These would be a courtyard in front of St Hilda's Church, a formal square in front of the Borough Hall and a Headland History Garden, which would feature a history trail.
The designers will now be asked to take into account the size of car parking areas and consult further before completion of the scheme.
The town square will be funded by the North Hartlepool Partnership, the European Union and money from regional development agency One NorthEast via the Tees Valley Partnership.
Mr Drummond said: "I am delighted with the choice of Ferguson McIlveen. Their proposal is outstanding. I especially like the idea of a history trail running through the gardens."
Councillor John Marshall, chairman of the North Hartlepool Partnership, said: "This outline proposal clearly stood out in the eyes of the project steering group and the general public. The whole consultation exercise has been an example of openness."
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