Plans submitted for former Hexham Middle School
Outline proposals have been lodged by Northumberland County Council for up to 200 homes at the 14-acre site.
NCC is working with ID Partnership on the project, for which a development partner will be sought when the project reaches the more detailed stage.
TPS and EcoNorth are also on the professional team.
All documents relating to the project can be viewed on the Northumberland public access planning website using reference 24/03778/OUT.
Further consultation will take place in the future once a developer is on board.
A key driver is affordability, with the council pledging that the application will seek to secure more affordable housing than is required by planning policy.
It also includes a long-term “design code” for the site, setting out how every element of the new homes and buildings on the site will complement the character and quality of this scheme.
This design code also helps set out how the refurbishment of historic buildings on the site can be sympathetically repurposed.
NCC said it remains in dialogue with a number of potential development partners who will help the delivery of specific elements of the scheme, such as the residential extra care unit. The selected partners will be confirmed in due course.
Cllr Richard Wearmouth, deputy leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “We’re really pleased to have reached this important milestone for this key site in Hexham.
“We’ve been clear from the start we want the local community involved throughout and this will continue.
“We’re confident in the future this site will be a real flagship for the town.”
The site, includes the former grounds of the Hexham Middle School which includes a large expanse of green space, and a community garden along with the grade two-listed Fellside Building to the south-east and assorted ancillary buildings.
The Fellside Building and Gatehouse are to be retained and are not included in the development masterplan, although later additions the Orchard and Beaumont buildings are lined up for demolition.
The town centre site has not been used as a school since 2016. NCC believes that the site represents “a unique development opportunity”.
Five character areas are set out in IDP’s design & access statement, the densest area being the proposed care village, which at three storeys would be the tallest area.
