Demolition plan for fire-damaged former care home

A former care home destroyed in a fire could be bulldozed.

Proposals have been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department to knock down West View House in West View Road.

Five fire crews spent more than six hours dealing with the blaze in August 2022.

Planning documents said, subject to permission being secured, the demolition would commence in early March and take between eight and 10 weeks.

While battling the blaze, firefighters removed the roof tiles to try and halt the spread of flames.

Cleveland Fire brigade chiefs said it had been "challenging" as the building was "unsafe in certain areas and the fire was spreading in the roof space".

The building, near West View Lodge Care Home, was 40% damaged.

Adam Hartley at North Bay Developments Limited has applied to level and clear the site for future redevelopment, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A decision is expected to be made on the application by the end of the month.

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