NEW plans to bring affordable and social housing to a prominent town centre site in Hexham could be unveiled by the end of February.

Northumberland County Council commissioned consultants to create a masterplan for the former Hexham Middle School site in March, with the hope of receiving a report by the end of this year.

The site has been vacant since the new middle school was opened in 2021.

However, in a video posted on social media, the council leader has now said the report will likely be received by the end of February. Councillor Glen Sanderson outlined the importance of the site to the council.

He said: “We’re currently working on one of the most important sites in the county in Hexham – the former middle school site. We have got some consultants in to give us a feasibility study and give us some ideas about how we can best use this site.

“It is full of potential for housing – low-cost housing, social housing, affordable housing – but it is really important to keep the character of the town, as well as the community gardens.

“The county council are very keen on the environment and we want to make sure it is a lovely place to live. It’s not just a question of knocking up loads of houses then walking away – it is going to be very much a plan that will be the best thing for Hexham.

“Hopefully, by the end of February, we will have the consultant’s report and we will begin having a conversation with people about what they think about the report, and how they might want to change things a bit and have their say on the plans going forward.”

Cllr Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, county councillor for the  Hexham East ward that includes the middle school site, was disappointed that the report had been pushed back. The Lib-Dem councillor also reiterated the “desperate” need for affordable housing in Hexham.

Cllr Fairless-Aitken said: “It was supposed to be in November then December and now it will be February – it is coming up to three years since the site became empty. Still we wait.

“I’m glad the town council consulted on it so residents who wanted to speak had a chance to have their say. I live in hope that it will be social housing.

“We’re desperate for affordable housing in Hexham. We’re more than 500 homes short of the mark – it’s a shocking statistic.

“There is more chance of finding a needle in a haystack than getting social housing in Hexham. People are fleeing domestic abuse or being kicked out and they have nowhere to go and can’t find a home in the town they’re from.

“If you have kids that go to school here or you work here and don’t have access to transport, it is really important that you stay here and you’re not just moved to somewhere like Ashington because there’s space there. I feel really frustrated that we can’t help people who urgently need a home.

“I’m glad that something is in the pipeline, but it has been three years and that is not quick enough.

“The town has had its say and hopefully they will listen. It is a huge, really desirable plot – when does something like that come up in Hexham?”