Plans for a long-awaited new access road into Hartlepool including highway improvements around the A19 have been approved.

Proposals were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department last year for the construction of a new “grade separated” junction linked to the A19.

The Hartlepool Western Link project, previously labelled the Elwick bypass, features the erection of a circular ramped slip road, a bridge structure and a new highway north of Elwick Village connecting to existing routes.

Proposals, submitted by council officers, state the near mile-long road, running from the locally named Devil’s Elbow, in Elwick Road, to the existing A19 junction at North Lane, will bring “significant benefits”.

This includes providing a “safe and effective third main access point from the A19 into and out of Hartlepool.”

The application was approved by eight votes to two at the latest meeting of the council’s planning committee, in line with officer recommendations.

Kieran Campbell, senior planning officer, said: “It will assist in enabling the local authority to meet its housing needs whilst also providing improved quality of life within the village of Elwick by reducing traffic through the village.”

He added the scheme will also alleviate congestion on the A689 and A179.

In total 26 objections were submitted by residents to the plans, which included worries around how the proposals stop access to and from the A19 via Church Bank.

Speaking at the meeting, Andrea Downing, from Sheraton Design and Build, said the closure would have a “negative impact on businesses” and force large delivery vehicles to navigate narrow and weight restricted roads and go through the village of Elwick to join the A19.

She added Dovecote Farm and Discount Equestrian will also be impacted.

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Ms Downing said: “I just don’t see how businesses are going to be viable once you close that access.”

Planning reports noted while the closures will have “adverse impacts” they are “considered not to be critical” and are “outweighed” by the scheme’s benefits.

No timescale was given for when work will commence, however officers stated it would take “months, to potentially a year” to fulfil conditions linked to the application and finalise the detailed design process.

They added the approval means the council can now push forward with compulsory purchase orders over the coming months to acquire the land needed, and they aim to get on site “as soon as possible.”