Work has started on public realm improvements to Scarborough Street as part of Hartlepool's £18.5 million Screen Industries Production Village project. The milestone marks progress towards establishing the town as a major hub for film, television and digital production.
The street will be resurfaced with high-quality granite paving to match the wider development, with works scheduled for completion before Christmas. Improvements will include wider footpaths for pedestrians, alterations to the junction with Exeter Street to enable temporary road closures for outdoor events while maintaining business access and parking, and new heritage-style lighting columns to enhance the area's character and lighting levels.
Project timeline and wider regeneration
Restoration work on The Vaults pub and properties at 21-25 Whitby Street is due to begin in January 2027. Early restoration work on The Shades Hotel, a historic property on Church Street that will serve as the gateway to the development, is scheduled to start in November 2026, with full restoration work including neighbouring properties at 10-14 Church Street beginning in January 2027.
Resurfacing works outside Hartlepool railway station are set to follow the completion of Scarborough Street improvements.
The Screen Industries Production Village, which incorporates the existing Northern Studios to be enhanced and expanded, is due to open in January 2028. The project is led by Hartlepool Borough Council and delivered in partnership with the Northern School of Art, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen.
Councillor Rob Darby, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council's Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said the improvements would create "a welcoming and attractive environment that reflects the scale of ambition behind this project while supporting the fantastic businesses already based there."