A RARE opportunity has arisen to buy a very smart family home in the centre of Corbridge with an adjacent plot which has full planning permission for a three-bedroom house.

Russell and Wendy Hardy have lived in the end-terrace property in St Helen’s Lane for 12 years, and in the past year have totally transformed it, extending the kitchen and conservatory to create a lovely through-space.

They have also put solar panels on the roof, which have been a real success, said Russell.

“The solar panels are very efficient and I’m very pleased with them,” he said. “What they cost will be paid back in five years.

“I get approximately £850 to £1,000 back money-wise, but I also get constant hot water as well. When the sun shines, I get free hot water.

“I would have thought this would be a plus point for anyone coming to look at the house – if the sun’s shining, you’re making money.”

The Hardys’ home has a reception hall with attractive wood-effect laminate flooring and cornice ceiling. The large lounge is a light and bright room with a feature fireplace

The breakfasting kitchen has fitted units with integrated appliances and a central island, while the utility room is also fitted with wall and floor units and has a built-in storage cupboard which has plumbing for automatic washing machine and is vented for a tumble dryer. There is a separate toilet with tiled walls.

The 24ft sun lounge, with a dining area at one end, has lovely views over the back garden and double doors to a patio area.

Russell said: “This is my favourite room – it’s quite large and you come into it through the kitchen. I just like the light and the fact that we’re effectively sitting outside. Wendy would say exactly the same.

“I haven’t skimped on refurbishing our house, it really has been done to a high standard. The kitchen used to have a little galley kitchen and I knocked through to the dining room and extended the conservatory. Everybody who comes in says it’s lovely.

“We’ve refurbished the house to a very high standard to make a comfortable home. It’s only in the last 12 months we’ve decided to sell because our family are in Hexham, so it would make life easier if we moved back there.”

There are three bedrooms upstairs, two with fitted wardrobes and the third with a storage cupboard, all sharing the four-piece family bathroom.

The gardens are low-maintenance, the front with lawns and mature borders and shrubs. There are two garages, a timber shed and drive.

“By modern standards, it’s a large back garden,” said Russell, “with a lawn, patio area and hedges which keep it private. There are also shrubs in pots.

“When I bought the house, it was an end-terrace so there were gardens on three sides. I altered it, put the drive in and built the garages and that’s where I’ve got the planning permission for. But there would still be a lot of garden for both properties.

“The building plot has full planning permission for a three-bedroom house, not just outline permission. If someone wants to move in, they can start work straightaway.

“There’s nothing to do, I’ve done everything – all the surveys, all the neighbours have been informed, the water and electricity authorities, everybody. It would be a brilliant little scheme for somebody.”

The property in St Helen’s Lane, Corbridge, is for sale at £295,000 from Rook Matthews Sayer, tel. (01434) 601616.