Councillors have voiced disappointment after plans for a key Northumberland town centre site were revealed to include no affordable homes. Anvil Homes has purchased 12 former police houses in Hexham, which have stood vacant for almost a decade, and intends to redevelop them into new housing.
Missed opportunity for affordable housing
There had been hopes that the site, previously used by Northumbria Police as housing for officers, would be used for affordable housing. However, Anvil purchased it from the police at market value and has no obligation to include affordable homes.
Coun Derek Kennedy, representing Hexham West, said: 'For an eight-year period those houses were just left to go to rack and ruin. It is ultimately up to the police to make their decisions and they have gone for the highest value they could. It is disappointing that there is no social housing, but it is not unsurprising.'
He added: 'I have to say I am glad they are going to be part of the housing stock again, because it was awful that they were just sitting there. I do have to register my disappointment that they are not going to be social or affordable housing, but from another point of view we have big hopes for the old Hexham Middle School site.'
Councillors' reactions
Coun Suzanne Fairless Aitken, representing Hexham East, said: 'I am really disappointed, but I am pleased that they're being developed because they were just sitting there. An affordable element should be on every housing development and I think this was a missed opportunity for Hexham West, which has very little affordable housing – there's hardly any. It's just sad it hasn't happened.'
Anvil Homes responded to the criticism, with a spokesman stating: 'We fully recognise the need for more affordable housing in Hexham and understand why this is an important issue for local residents and councillors.'
'However, this particular development involves the refurbishment and extension of 12 former police houses that were purchased through a competitive open market sale by the Police Authority. As a public body, the Police Authority was required to achieve best consideration for taxpayers, and the site was acquired at full market value.'
Company defends scheme
The spokesman added: 'As a result, there was no planning policy requirement or funding mechanism that would have enabled affordable housing to be delivered as part of this scheme. Our investment is bringing back into use a site that had stood vacant for almost a decade, transforming the existing properties into high-quality, energy-efficient family homes through a significant programme of regeneration.'
'While we appreciate the wider debate around housing affordability, we believe returning these long-empty homes to productive residential use represents a positive investment in Hexham and its housing stock.'
