Plans to bring 12 long-empty former police houses back into use in Hexham have been welcomed as a boost to the town’s housing stock, but councillors say the redevelopment has missed an important opportunity to provide affordable homes.
Anvil Homes bought the properties, previously used by Northumbria Police to house officers, and intends to refurbish and extend them into family homes. The houses have been vacant for almost a decade and their condition has deteriorated during that time.
Former police housing set for redevelopment
The properties were sold by the police at market value through a competitive open-market sale. Anvil Homes said the purchase meant there was no planning-policy requirement or funding mechanism for affordable housing to be included in the scheme.
The developer said the project would return the site to productive residential use through a “significant programme of regeneration”. It described the planned homes as high-quality and energy-efficient family properties, and said the investment would benefit Hexham’s housing stock.
Anvil Homes also said it recognised the need for more affordable housing in Hexham and understood why the issue mattered to residents and councillors. However, it maintained that the circumstances of this particular purchase did not allow an affordable element to be delivered.
Councillors disappointed by missing affordable element
Coun Derek Kennedy, who represents Hexham West, said the houses had been neglected for eight years. He welcomed their return to residential use but said it was disappointing that the scheme would not provide social housing.
He said Hexham had “big hopes” for the former Hexham Middle School site, describing the county council-owned location as a major potential source of affordable housing. He called that project the town’s “holy grail of affordable housing” and said its future was ultimately in the council’s hands.
Coun Suzanne Fairless Aitken, representing Hexham East, also said she was pleased the properties would finally be developed. But she argued that an affordable component should be included in every housing development and described the absence of one at the former police houses as a missed opportunity for Hexham West.
She said the ward had very little affordable housing, adding that the outcome was “just sad”.
What happens next
The proposed redevelopment will focus on the existing 12 former police houses, rather than leaving the vacant site unused. Anvil Homes said bringing the buildings back into use would be a positive investment for Hexham, while the councillors’ comments underline the continuing local debate over how new development can meet demand for affordable homes.
The former Hexham Middle School site was identified by Councillor Kennedy as a separate opportunity for affordable housing because it is owned by Northumberland County Council. The supplied report does not state when work on either site will begin or provide further details of the planning timetable.