The Strategic Planning Committee of Northumberland Council met on Tuesday 6 October 2026 to consider a range of planning applications and receive an update on Section 106 agreements. The primary focus of the meeting was the determination of planning applications, including a significant proposal for the demolition and rebuilding of Berwick Academy.

Determination of Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider a number of planning applications. The most significant of these was:

Berwick Academy Redevelopment (26/01938/CCD)

This application concerned the demolition of existing school buildings at Berwick Academy and the erection of new school buildings, along with associated external works, access, and landscaping. The proposals form part of a wider masterplan to transition to a two-tier education system in Berwick. The new facilities were planned to include a three-storey teaching building with internal sports provision, a one-storey Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) building, a new vehicular and pedestrian access road from the A1167 (Sunnyside Cut), a new all-weather pitch, a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and landscaping to support biodiversity net gain. The report pack indicated that the County Archaeologist had no objections, and the County Ecologist raised no objections subject to conditions. However, Sport England had raised an objection due to the quantitative loss of playing fields, despite proposed qualitative improvements. This objection meant that any approval would require referral to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

S106 Report

The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on Section 106 (S106) agreements. This report, titled S106 Agreements Update Report August 2026, provided information on the monitoring and collection of S106 contributions throughout Northumberland during the previous month. S106 agreements are legal obligations entered into by developers to mitigate the impact of their developments, often through financial contributions towards local infrastructure, affordable housing, or environmental enhancements. The report detailed new legal agreements completed in August 2026, including contributions for habitat creation, coastal mitigation services, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and nutrient mitigation requirements. It also noted payments made for specific projects, such as equipment for a play area in Byrness.

The meeting was scheduled to be chaired by Councillor John Ace Beynon, Chairman of the Council. Other attendees included Councillor Malcolm Robinson (Vice-Chair), Councillor Gordon Stewart (Cabinet Member for Public Safety), and a number of other councillors and council officers, including Rebecca Little, who was listed as the point of contact for enquiries.