Seaham Hall car boot sale to be relocated after plans approved

The sales area at Seaham Hall car boot sale will be altered after Nobles Promotions Limited, the operator, secured temporary planning permission. 

It means the seasonal event will now take place to the north of the existing parking area at Seaham Hall Farm, off the B1287 road, for up to 10 years. 

The seasonal event has been praised for its positive impact on the local community. 

“The car boot sale is of substantial social and economic importance to Seaham and the wider area,” a planning statement read. 

“On a typical Sunday, around 230 sellers and over 4,500 buyers attend, generating significant spend that benefits local traders, catering outlets, and the visitor economy. 

“It is more than a market: it is a valued community meeting place, supporting social interaction, affordable opportunities for families, and the re-use and recycling of goods.”

Pamela's Ice Cream Van Hire from Darlington has worked at the site since it first opened in the 1990s and said the Seaham events provide a large part of my family’s income. 

“Seaham car boot is a lifeline for a lot of people,” one supporter added. 

The car boot sale is in operation on Sundays between 12pm and 5pm from the last Sunday in March to the third Sunday in October. 

Another supporter said: “This Sunday car boot operation is without question the finest run event of its kind, perhaps anywhere in the country. Whilst inconvenient to move, Nobles will continue to make the event a success and it forms a vital part of the community shopping infrastructure.”