A COMMUNITY housing scheme in Haltwhistle has finally welcomed its first tenant.

Haltwhistle Partnership has overseen the renovation of storage rooms in the Grade II listed building it owns in the Market Place, to provide four flats.

Once fully occupied, the new accommodation will yield around £20,000 per year for the partnership to fund various community initiatives.

This week, the partnership said the first tenant has moved into one of the properties, which are on the first floor of the property.

And the partnership has announced that from November, the spacious retail unit on the ground floor will be available for rent.

It follows the decision of Trevor Potts, who has ran his DIY and hardware store Bits ’n’ Pieces there since 2009, to retire.

Haltwhistle Partnership’s chairman Tom Teasdale said: “The purpose of these flats is to provide good accommodation for people working in the area, helping to support the economy and also providing a new income stream for the partnership to continue its work in Haltwhistle. We are really proud of our achievement in bringing these flats to fruition, employing many local contractors along the way, putting money into the local economy.”

Work on the flats’ scheme got under way last year. Two of the homes have two bedrooms, with the other two each comprising one bedroom.

Planning permission has also been granted for a maisonette to be added as part of the complex, which would provide further accommodation.

Speaking about the retail unit, Mr Teasdale added: “This 1,000 sq ft unit occupies a prime spot in the Market Square and the partnership is keen to hear from anyone who might have a good business proposition for utilising the space.”

The historic town clock, which dates back to 1954 and is attached to the front of the building, has also been refurbished as part of the scheme. Haltwhistle Partnership runs various civic projects for the benefit of townsfolk, including children, teenagers and pensioners.