Plans are brewing to transform a former Northumberland brewery into housing.

Mr K Watson is behind plans to convert the former Wylam Brewery site on South Houghton Farm in  Heddon-On-The-Wall into 13 new homes.

His application to convert buildings on the site into six new homes along with erecting seven new builds was approved by Northumberland County Council last May.

Now, Mr Watson has asked for listed building consent to carry out the works.

If this is given the go-ahead he will be able to demolish “modern style agricultural buildings” on the site to make way for the new dwellings.

Meanwhile, Houghton South Farmhouse – an early 19th century grade 2 listed building located and its two matching mid-19th century single-storey extensions would be used for housing.

A heritage statement authored by Durham University’s Archaeological Services Department said removing the contemporary buildings would have a “significant positive impact.”

It said: “Removal of the modern barns will have a significant positive impact on the setting of the historic buildings. Their fabric will be revealed and the relationship between them, the house and the yard will become legible. Residential conversion of the old buildings will involve the unblocking of historic openings and will reveal their historic character.”

Planning documents previously submitted to the authority said that the bid to use the site for housing came after Wylam moved its operations to Exhibition Park in Newcastle.

During the farm’s time as a brewery, the statement said, it had been blighted by complaints about stench and noise.

It said: ” The current operator has been a long term tenant; however

this has not been without its problems including noise, odour and traffic disturbances.

“As a result the applicant would like to seek the redevelopment of the site for residential purposes thereby ending the commercial use of the site altogether.”

Northumberland County Council planning department will decide on the proposals in October.