We're working with Northumberland County Council on plans for a new-build facility which will replace Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital and provide extra care services to replace the residential care service previously delivered at Greenholme. It is part of our plans to invest £200million over the next 10 years.

Councillor Ian Lindley, executive member for health and wellbeing at Northumberland County Council, said: “We have always been committed to providing an integrated health and social care scheme for Haltwhistle and ensuring the development reflects the views of the community and key stakeholders.

“We are pleased that the application has been submitted and this represents a significant step forward for the project.

“Local people gave us their views on two occasions last year and we have taken their feedback into account when putting together the application. For example the position of the building on the site and the design of the external walls and the roof have all been modified as a result of comments from the community.

“We look forward to working through the planning process and bringing this project to fruition.”

The scheme aims to promote the welfare and independence of people with a long-term health condition or disability, particularly older people. 

The proposed development will have 15 hospital beds providing rehabilitation, minor injuries unit and physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities. There will be 12 extra care flats with 24-hour support for tenants.

During construction, inpatient services currently provided at Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital will transfer to Hexham General Hospital.

The staff from Haltwhistle will continue to provide these services and the building work is expected to take about a year.