The discovery of a possible Anglo Saxon burial site has halted plans to build a new home.

Hartlepool Borough Council refused planning permission for the home in Hart after hearing the land could be of "national and international importance."

The proposals, submitted by Mr R Greig, had been recommended for refusal, with concerns raised that it could cause “substantial harm” and a loss of archaeology to the area.

At the meeting, Robin Daniels, from Tees Archaeology, said neighbouring land at the Fens, which the Manor Park development has been built on, has shown to be home to an Anglo-Saxon cemetery.

He added early work suggests there are six graves at this site, with more potentially there.

He said: “The evaluation that was carried out identified six graves, but clearly it was a very small proportion of the site, something like six percent of the site was looked at.

“At the moment we think they’re Anglo-Saxon based on the circumstantial evidence, which is substantial, but is still circumstantial evidence.

“If it is another substantial Anglo-Saxon cemetery then I would certainly advise refusal purely on the grounds of national interest."

“I believe that further evaluation of this site may further reveal that it is of national and international importance as well, but at the moment I do not have sufficient evidence to be able to say for definite.”

He added initial results from the post-excavation at the Manor Park site suggest the findings are of “national and international importance with the identification of possible viking remains.”

Mike Dickinson, from planning agent Kingfield Development on behalf of the applicant, argued the development should be approved for several reasons, with a scheme for archaeology investigation previously approved.

He said: “We have tried to address all those issues.

“Our client is not adverse to a condition being applied, should planning be approved, to a further investigation being carried out before any work of construction occurs on the site.”

Cllr Moss Boddy, who sits on the committee, said: “If we can’t hand on heart say we are absolutely and firmly able to say this is not of such significance, we should not be tampering with this land until we have this information.”

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