Housing estate's street names to reflect history

Persimmon Homes named the 316 home development Greatham Meadow

Street names in a new housing estate will celebrate an area's heritage after a developer was accused of "disregarding" the area's history.

Persimmon Homes called the 316-home development, north of the A689 near Hartlepool, Greatham Meadow but a call was made for it to be renamed Claxton Meadow after the nearby parish.

The company said local historian Robert Smith, who had made the call, had since helped choose street names reflecting the area's past.

Mr Smith said this was an "an excellent solution".

The plans, which will form the first phase of a large housing development, were unanimously approved by councillors.

Earlier this year, an initial hybrid application was approved for the South West Extension development which will see 1,260 homes built on land between the A689 and Brierton Lane.

The proposals also feature the creation of a primary school, medical centre and restaurant, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Robert Smith said the area's history went back "a long way" to the late 11th Century

The development will have a number of types of housing including bungalows and apartments, with between one and five bedrooms.

Mr Smith, who chaired the former Fens Residents' Association before it folded in 2020, said he had no overall objection to the scheme.

His concerns just related to its name, he said.

The area's history went back "a long way" to the late 11th Century, with the Claxton family then being "lords of the manor" until the 15th Century, he added.

Alice Hall, from Persimmon, said information boards would be put up to give residents a "glimpse of the history of the area of Claxton".