THE redundant and overgrown former auction mart site in Bellingham has been put up for sale, 13 years after it closed for business.

Bellingham Auction Mart ceased operating in 2004 but the land has since become dormant, despite twice receiving planning consent for housing developments.

The site, which is still owned by Hexham and Northern Marts, was granted outline planning consent for a residential development by Yuill Homes in 2005, but for financial reasons it never came to fruition.

Another application, this time by Hexham and Northern Marts themselves, was granted consent in 2008 but a developer was never found to take on the work.

Now, the 4.65 acre site is up for sale, with potential owners advised that it can either be pursued as a single development, or, as has been proposed in the past, divided into seven parcels of land, each for seven or eight units.

Bellingham residents have raised concerns over the years that the land was increasingly becoming unsightly, with ‘keep out – private’ signs on the fence making it an unfriendly and untidy entrance to the village.

Managing director of Hexham and Northern Marts, Robert Addison, said the economic crash brought early plans to a standstill, but he is hopeful the former mart could become a positive area of the village.

“We have just been conscious of the fact it isn’t really bringing anything to Bellingham and we were mindful that the residents of Bellingham were concerned it was lying dormant,” said Mr Addison.

“We will just have to see what happens. I’m aware there has been some development in the Bellingham parish and this is a good site for a development.”