A village of detached homes and two-car households
People have lived at Hart for thousands of years. Farming here dates back to around 3500 BC, and the de Brus family, ancestors of Robert the Bruce, held the area from around 1119. The village centres on Front Street, with the White Hart Inn, the Raby Arms, the village hall, the primary school and the Church of St Mary Magdalene. Newer roads such as Magdalene Drive, Voltigeur Drive, Holyrood Crescent and Hart Pastures lie around the old core.
The Hart ward stretches from the village to the edge of Hartlepool and had 3,226 households at the 2021 Census. 43% lived in detached houses, 32% in semis, 13% in terraces and 11% in flats. In the census area that includes the village itself (LSOA Hartlepool 014A) the figures are even more striking. 61% of homes were detached, 83% were owner-occupied and 60% of households had two or more cars or vans. Only 5% had no car.
That changes the conversation. Instead of squeezing in one car, Hart homeowners usually ask about:
- Big replacement drives for three or four cars, sometimes with a turning area.
- Gravel drives with block or setts edging, which suit the village setting.
- Gates and pillars, set back far enough for a car to pull clear of the road.
- Resin or block paving up to a garage or extension.
Free-draining ground
Hart is different from most of Hartlepool underfoot. The British Geological Survey maps the village on hummocky glacial sand and gravel over Roker Formation dolostone. Sand and gravel drains far better than the clay till found across most of the town. That makes permeable surfaces work well, because water soaks away through the sub-base into the ground below.
It does not mean you can skip the sub-base. Loose sand needs a membrane and a compacted stone layer to stop ruts forming, especially under heavy cars or a delivery van. On sloping plots, edging and a firm base at the lower end stop gravel from washing down.
The Environment Agency's flood map shows no mapped flood zone within 300 metres of the village centre. That fits Hart's position on higher ground above the coast.
Listed buildings and the kerb
Listed buildings. Hart has no conservation area, but it does have seven listed buildings close to the centre. They include the Grade I Church of St Mary Magdalene and its boundary wall, the remains of the Brus Wall, the old Hart windmill, Home Farmhouse, Clevecote and Voltigeur Cottage. If your home is listed, or the work affects the setting of one of these, talk to Hartlepool Borough Council's planning team first.
Permitted development. For an unlisted house, a permeable drive, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission. Hart's ground makes the permeable option easy.
Dropping the kerb. Hartlepool's policy is that your chosen accredited contractor applies for the £145 vehicle crossing permit, paid in advance. After a site check, the council normally issues it within about two working days. Its standard crossing is 2.7 metres wide, and wider plots may need more. On the A179 or other busy roads, visibility is part of the check. See our dropped kerbs page.
Costs for a larger Hart drive
Big drives cost more in total but often less per square metre. For a 60m² drive at Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 60m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £3,600 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £5,400 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £6,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £7,200 |
Edging, gate posts, lighting and a soakaway are extras. A gravel drive with a paved apron at the entrance keeps stones off the road and is a popular choice for a village house.
Nearby parts of Hartlepool
- Clavering driveways: East towards the coast, a 1990s estate on the edge of Hartlepool.
- Throston driveways: South-east down Hart Lane, with a broad mix of estates.
- Greatham driveways: The borough's other village, south of the town, with a conservation area.
Surfaces that suit larger village plots: gravel, block paving, resin-bound.
Every area on our list: All areas.
Questions people ask in Hart
Does Hart's sandy ground mean I need less digging?
You still need a proper sub-base, but sand and gravel drains well, so permeable surfaces work without extra soakaways. A membrane and compacted stone stop ruts forming.
My house is near St Mary Magdalene. Are there extra rules?
The church is Grade I listed, and other listed buildings stand nearby. If your property is listed or the drive affects their setting, talk to Hartlepool Borough Council's planning team first.
Can I have gates on my drive?
Yes, but set them back far enough for the car to pull fully off the road, and make sure they do not open over the pavement. Electric gates need power run in before the surface goes down.
Is Hart at risk of flooding?
There is no mapped flood zone within 300 metres of the village centre. Hart sits on higher ground, though you should still direct water away from the house.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Hart ward and LSOA Hartlepool 014A (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Hart, County Durham; Planning Data: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; Hartlepool Borough Council: vehicle crossing policy; GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).