After 2 years of planning, McCarthy & Stone have pulled out of the development at Hexham’s old swimming pool.  45 luxury retirement flats were to be developed into a seven story building. However the developer has stated the site is too much of a challenge.

Independent Councillor Derek Kennedy said “This is desperately disappointing news.  The development would have resulted in retired people living directly in the centre of town
and using the many facilities.  It would have tidied up the redundant old swimming pool site on Market Street and the area on Haugh Lane.  We are now left with unused space, coupled with the Links building that has recently been closed.”

Tynedale Council spent circa £500,000 in 2006 to purchase the two bungalows on Haugh Lane with the idea of knocking them down to provide sufficient space for flats to be built and incorporated into the old swimming pool building, these plans are now in tatters.

So what now for these sizeable site in a key location?  Some local people are repeating the calls for a multi-story car park to be built on the land.  So what now for this site……..?

You can read more at the Hexham Courant web site – click here