Council leader Glen Sanderson said it had made “every effort” over the last six months to retain the fire station and deliver the depot.
“After pausing the process to allow other options to come forward for three months I felt we really had to press on for the sake of our staff and given the timetable for the roll-out of our new recycling service for the county,” he said.
Sanderson said he had spoken to Sir Antony on two occasions recently, saying they shared the same vision for Hexham.
“I made it quite clear that we would help to deliver, with him, a culture-rich town and that assurance very much remains,” he said,
“We look forward especially to working with him on his proposed statue.”