Hartlepool Borough Council made the claims recently on social media in response to the local social media groups exploration of a derelict property in the towns Church Street....
29th Jan 2025
A local urban exploration group has been accused of trespassing after its claimed they unlawfully gained access to a derelict council-owned property—despite the building having been left abandoned for nearly a decade and visibly being left 'insecure'.....
The property, located in Hartlepool's Church Street, has reportedly stood empty since 2015, with Hartlepool Borough Council (HBC) failing to secure or even re-purpose it. Recently, the urban exploration group UK Undiscovered discovered the site was left completely open and proceeded to document its deteriorating condition. However, rather than addressing its neglect, its claimed HBC took to social media to directly accuse the explorers of “unlawfully entering” the premises, branding their actions as trespass.
The council even claimed to have “informed the police”—despite trespass being widely regarded as a civil matter rather than a criminal offence.
In response, UK Undiscovered quickly fired back at the local council which in 2023 was declared an authority of no public confidence, stating that the building was visibly insecure and that their mission is to shed light on forgotten properties across the North East, encouraging local councils to bring them back into use. The group has documented numerous similar sites, highlighting urban decay and the failures of their respective property owners—in this case, the local council itself.
Double Standards? Council Neglects Its Own Derelict Buildings
HBC Exposed can confirm that both buildings recently explored by UK Undiscovered are council-owned, with one particular structure left in severe disrepair for over a decade.
This revelation has sparked accusations of double standards, as its claimed Hartlepool Borough Council frequently takes a “tough stance” against private property developers for allowing buildings to rot—yet HBC itself embarrassingly sits on a crumbling portfolio of abandoned structures.
Critics argue that instead of proactively maintaining its assets, the council appears to be waiting for the 'magic money tree' of external authorities—such as the Tees Valley Combined Authority—to foot the bill for redevelopment using more taxpayer funds.
Council’s Financial Crisis Leaves More Buildings Rotting
Another recently explored council-owned building was left vacant after documents revealed that HBC was forced to allow the tenants to surrender their lease due to substantial structural defects. This latest addition to the town’s growing list of grot spots raises further questions about HBC’s ability to manage its own property portfolio, especially as sources have revealed that the council’s finance chiefs reportedly suspended all financial borrowing last year in a desperate attempt to curb the local councils spiralling loan liabilities—exacerbated by soaring Bank of England interest rates.
Critics claim that instead of pointing fingers at urban explorers, perhaps Hartlepool Borough Council should take a long, hard look at its own failures in property management and ensure that properties they buy with public funds are secured...... or brought back into use instead of being left to rot !