Plans to build flats on a prominent site in Hexham town centre, which has sat empty for more than 10 years, are set to be approved.

The redevelopment of the former swimming pool, on Gilesgate, to create 45 apartments is recommended to get the green light at next Tuesday's Northumberland County Council's strategic planning committee meeting.

The majority of the buildings on the site, which stretches across to Haugh Lane, would be demolished.

Set behind this would be a new four-storey building in a rough T-shape, which given the change in elevation across the site, would become seven storeys on the Haugh Lane side.

The block would feature six one-bedroom flats, 36 two-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom duplex units and one two-bedroom penthouse.

On the Gilesgate frontage, there would be two landscaped garden areas, one by Gilesgate Court and the other next to Hexham Community Centre, where a pedestrian access would be provided.

Further areas of landscaping and trees would be located in the north west corner next to the realigned public footpath through the site, which was previously owned by the county council before being sold off.

There would be vehicular access with automatic gates from Haugh Lane, where 46 parking spaces, including disabled bays and electric charging points, would be provided both in an undercroft area and in two single-storey pavilions.

The application has sparked three objections, but also 15 letters of support.

Hexham Civic Society, while supportive of the the Gilesgate elevations, is opposed to "its failure to cascade down the site and the overall massing of the building". It also does not consider that the parking pavilions are an advantage.

However, the planning officer concludes: "The former swimming pool site has lain empty for over 10 years and is a key site for development within the centre of Hexham and the conservation area.

"The application would provide 45 apartments on a former brownfield site and in a sustainable location where the scale and principle of development is considered appropriate."

McCarthy & Stone received consent for a similar scheme in 2013, for 45 flats for older people, but abandoned it in 2016, due to the "challenging nature of the site".

The previous permission included no affordable housing provision, because of the viability of the scheme, and the same would apply to the new proposals, which were first lodged in November 2018 by Robert Skelly, of Hexham Hotels Ltd, before being updated earlier this year.