AMENDMENTS to a planning application for one of Hexham’s most prominent buildings will be more in keeping with the town’s conservation area.

After a meeting with Hexham Town Council’s infrastructure and planning committee, real estate consultants Lambert Smith Hampton revealed it will ensure the frontage of the former Hexham Rural Council chambers, Prospect House, will return to its original Victorian form.

The firm said the owners of the property, Lichfield, would remove the 1960s extension at the front of the building. It also confirmed that the imminent planning application would be for two fewer units than the 18 new homes proposed.

Mark Dodds, planning director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “We are changing the scheme slightly and reducing the number of units in the main conversion by two.

“At present, there is a curved 1960s frontage but we will set the building further back. The frontage doesn’t fit in the street scene so we will make it look better, and it will look more fitting opposite the Moot Hall.”

Last year, planning approval was granted to transform the historic, Grade-II listed building, currently up for sale, into 18 new homes.