property
Hexthorpe: An overlooked suburb on the cusp of rezoning
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council papers flag Hexthorpe for potential rezoning hearings in September 2026 that could open former industrial pockets to new housing.
How we reported this
Planning records lodged with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council last month list several parcels in Hexthorpe for a rezoning review scheduled for September 2026.
The move follows the council’s updated housing delivery targets set in March 2026, which require an extra 1,200 homes across the borough by 2031 to meet central government quotas. Hexthorpe sits between the main railway line and the River Don, an area long dominated by light industry and storage yards that have seen little new building since the 1990s.
Residents on Urban Road and Hexthorpe Road already notice more estate agents measuring up vacant workshops near the old British Rail engineering site. The nearby Frenchgate Centre has reported a 9 percent rise in footfall since April, partly linked to workers from the Doncaster iPort logistics park who are seeking shorter commutes.
Price signals and recent sales
Land Registry figures for the first quarter of 2026 show the median sale price in Hexthorpe at £187,000, up 14 percent from the same period in 2025. Three terrace houses on St James’ Street sold in May for between £172,000 and £185,000, all within seven days of listing. Estate agents note that similar stock in the adjacent Hyde Park neighbourhood now averages £215,000, creating a clear price gap that rezoning could narrow.
Council officers have circulated a draft map that would reclassify 4.8 hectares currently zoned for employment use to residential or mixed-use. The document names the former Polypipe factory site and the yard behind the Hexthorpe Community Centre as priority zones.
Next steps for buyers and sellers
Anyone considering a purchase before the September hearing should check the council’s online planning portal for the final consultation deadline of 15 August. Sellers with industrial units on the affected parcels may want to instruct a surveyor now, as values could shift once the new zoning is confirmed. The council has scheduled two public drop-in sessions at the Hexthorpe Pavilion on 22 and 29 July for residents to review the proposals.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.