A £2.2M REGENERATION scheme in the centre of Hartlepool has taken a major step forward.

A programme of selective demolition on the Carr/Hopps Street redevelopment site, an area characterised by large numbers of empty and boarded-up terraced properties, is due to begin early next year.

Further work is also to be carried out to explore the options for a replacement housing scheme.

The redevelopment of the site has been an ongoing issue since the Government scrapped funding for housing market renewal (HMR) schemes in 2011.

Subsequent lobbying from areas affected by this decision resulted in the Government making transition funding available to allow local authorities to make structured exits from existing HMR schemes, with Hartlepool receiving £2m.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee voted unanimously for demolition and gave the go-ahead for work to begin on the process of appointing a contractor.

This followed calls at the meeting for demolition to start as soon as possible from nearby residents who say the regeneration site is a source of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Assistant Director (Regeneration) Damien Wilson said: “We have already seen how successful the nearby Headway and Alexandra Square regeneration schemes have proved and the Carr/Hopps Street redevelopment is the last piece in the jigsaw of incremental housing regeneration in the town centre.”

Although Hartlepool Council has acquired most of the properties on the site by agreement, several remain in private ownership. The committee has been told that these could be incorporated into a new housing scheme should the council be unable to buy them.

The Regeneration Services Committee agreed to extend a deadline for the remaining owners to sell to the council until December 24.