A not-for-profit organisation has said Hexham has the potential to become a "positive example" of a new sustainable housing development.

Hexham Community-Led Housing (HCLH) has said the town could contribute proportionately to Northumberland’s new housing targets without incursion into greenbelt land.

HCLH said this could be achieved using new legislation set to be introduced in early 2025.

Wendy and Dave at the former schoolWendy and Dave at the former school (Image: HCLH)

The group has identified several large brownfield sites, already in public ownership, which could be used for this development.

These include the vacant middle school site and the police houses site, both close to the town centre.

There is also a smaller empty site up the West Road from the Co-op.

These sites, according to HCLH, could provide the much-needed affordable housing for people of all ages.

The group also identified privately owned sites full of potential, including the old Workhouse site and the old bus station site.

A spokesperson for Hexham Community-Led Housing said: "If the new legislation contains greater clarity around compulsory purchase by councils in order to meet local housing needs, Northumberland Council will be able to act in the town’s interests on these, at last.

"There are others that have become vacant in the last five years, for example, the old Dalesway garage repair shop site, expansive and derelict behind the petrol station.

"The importance of the vacant middle school site cannot be understated."

The HCLH believe this site could be used for sustainable affordable housing of all types and tenures, including first steps on the housing ladder for young people and families, homes for older people, and new council housing at social rents.

A HCLH further added: "What a chance this is for the County Council to get recognition for meeting the needs of a small rural population, without greenbelt tensions and recriminations."

Senior council figures have been invited to an evening talk on sustainable housing options on September 12, at the Beaumont Hotel, at 5.30pm, to discuss the potential of the vacant school site.

HCLH hopes this talk will encourage the council to align on their vision.