Parking charges have been introduced at Hexham’s former bus station as the site’s owner, Dysart Group, revives plans to build apartments on part of the long-derelict Priestpopple site.
The car park was previously available free of charge under a temporary agreement between private landowner Dysart Group and Northumberland County Council. That arrangement ended in summer 2025, and drivers must now pay to park on the privately owned site.
New Priestpopple parking charges
Charges begin at 99p for two hours. Parking for four hours costs £1.99, while six hours costs £2.99. A 12-hour stay costs £3.99 and a full 24 hours costs £5.99.
Payments are cashless and can be made through PayByPhone or RingGo. The parking is being retained as a temporary measure while Dysart prepares its development plans.
Mike Clark, development director at the Dysart Group, said the company had offered to extend the previous free-parking arrangement, but the council decided it no longer wanted to provide free parking at the former bus station.
“Although we offered to extend the previous arrangement with the council providing free car parking under licence to them, which had lasted for several years and I think has been well received by users, the council decided that it no longer wanted to offer free parking at the bus station.”
Mr Clark said Dysart was preparing a scheme for town-centre apartments, but that it would take several months to mobilise. He said charges were needed to cover insurance and other costs during the temporary period, and expressed hope that the arrangement would be well received over Christmas.
“We are currently preparing a development for part of the site to deliver town centre apartments, but as this will take several months to mobilise, I’ve agreed to maintain car parking temporarily over that period.”
“We will have to levy a charge to cover insurance and costs, and it is only a temporary arrangement, but hopefully well received for the Christmas period.”
Apartment proposals have no timetable
No detailed plans or timetable for the proposed apartments have been announced. Dysart previously acquired the former bus station site after its closure in 2016, following the completion of a £2.28 million replacement bus station close to Hexham General Hospital.
The company later proposed a mixed-use development including more than 30 apartments, but those plans did not materialise. The latest proposal is for town-centre apartments on part of the site, with Dysart saying it hopes the redevelopment will help create a more active centre.
“I hope we will be able to help by regenerating the site and helping sustain the town centre,”
Mr Clark said convenient parking remained a significant issue for market towns such as Hexham.
Councillors react to the change
Northumberland County Council said its town-centre parking offer, including in Hexham, remains free and that it is one of the few councils to continue providing free parking. The authority said the former bus station arrangement was temporary and had been used while a new 250-space car park was completed at nearby Alemouth Road.
The council said it terminated the licence in summer 2025, saving itself and taxpayers the business-rates cost associated with the site.
Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, welcomed the prospect of development after years of concern about the condition of the site. He said the temporary car park had been useful but that councillors were surprised charges had been introduced.
“After many years, it’s good to read that Dysart plans to construct some development on the old bus station site.”
“This bombsite has been a blight on our town for a decade, when the original plans were circulated.”
Councillor Kennedy said he hoped the scheme would contribute to Hexham’s health, commerce and sustainability.
Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, county councillor for Hexham East, said she was surprised by the change. She questioned whether parking arrangements complied with planning requirements for sites in a conservation area, including screening measures, while welcoming the indication that the paid parking could be temporary before construction.
She also called for a projected timeline and raised concerns about potholes, vehicles parking on the marked footway and rubbish at the site.
Councillor Trevor Cessford, who represents Hexham North, said he had been told almost two years ago that the council’s use of the site was ending after the creation of 250 free spaces at the Bunker Site. He said the council had been paying to use the old bus station for additional free parking, but that Dysart was entitled to charge because the land was private.
He added that council-owned parking in Hexham would remain free, although some spaces are time-limited and others are available all day.