A £13m redevelopment scheme in the heart of Hexham looks set to have restaurants, leisure companies, electrical and IT retailers at its core.

While staying tight-lipped on the businesses that have expressed an interest, development director for Dysart Mike Clark hinted that occupants of the retail units within the former Hexham bus station site would be carefully selected.

He spoke at Monday’s meeting of Hexham Town Council, but revealed that progress to date had been painfully slow.

“We haven’t actually taken possession of the site yet, so no businesses have signed anything and it would be spurious to give names at this point in time,” he told the meeting.

“What I can say, if this helps to reassure the community, is that there will be no bookies, off licence premises or hot food takeaways because that just wouldn’t create the atmosphere we want here. And we don’t want to do anything which would inhibit apartment sales.

“What we haven’t had is talks with any of the Fenwick or John Lewis-type department stores.”

The scheme involves the demolition of a significant number of buildings, including the old bus station offices, the Abbey Press buildings and the Ropery.

The new build will incorporate six shops and 31 two-bedroomed flats spread over three blocks with underground parking, while the Ropery will be reconstructed to provide five low-cost houses and one shop.

However, councillors were told to expect a planning application to reduce the size of some of the shops, due to changes in demand.

“The intention is to do the full development in one, but it is a difficult site, so it will cause significant disruption,” warned Mr Clark.

However, he explained that Dysart had been in discussions with the Co-op, which owns the car park site near Marks & Spencer, about gaining access to the site from the rear to avoid Priestpopple whenever possible.

“As part of the legal process we have been advised a notice will be served very soon telling us we can get on site,” said Mr Clark. “Once we take possession we can commission and complete the archaeological investigations we couldn’t while the bus station was operational and commission our preferred contractor.”