Hartlepool
Combining evidence and engagement into a 10-year plan
North East England | Phase 1 | Up to £20m over 10 years
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Why we've included it
A useful example of combining baseline evidence with extensive community engagement to develop both a 10-year Regeneration Plan and four-year Investment Plan.
What they did
Hartlepool developed its 10-year Regeneration Plan and complementary four-year Investment Plan through a combination of desktop baseline analysis, community engagement and strategic stakeholder engagement.
The plans were finalised in November 2025 and formally approved by government in April 2026. The four-year Investment Plan covers the first investment period from April 2026 to March 2030.
More than 1,400 residents contributed through surveys, workshops, previous consultation evidence and community conversations.
The approach
Community
Hartlepool didn't rely on a single consultation exercise. It brought together surveys, workshops, existing consultation insights and direct conversations with residents.
Evidence
The Board used desktop baseline analysis to identify critical challenges and opportunities for targeted intervention across Hartlepool.
Priorities
Evidence and engagement were then used together to inform the 10-year Regeneration Plan and the interventions contained within the initial four-year Investment Plan.
What others can learn
Community voice and data do different jobs.
Community engagement tells you about people's experiences, priorities and aspirations.
Quantitative evidence helps establish the scale, distribution and trajectory of the issues behind them.
Neither should automatically override the other.
Hartlepool's approach provides a useful example of bringing baseline analysis and community evidence together before determining priorities.
- What are people telling us?
- What does the evidence tell us?
- Where do the two reinforce each other — and where don't they?
Those differences can sometimes be as informative as the areas of agreement.
Where they are now
Hartlepool's plans have been approved and its first four-year investment period runs from 2026/27 to 2029/30.
Explore Hartlepool's approach
These case studies are independent UrbanCat learning resources based on publicly available Pride in Place plans, engagement material and programme information. They are not MHCLG assessments or endorsements.