Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion by Northumberland County Council's Strategic Planning Committee. The meeting's agenda included a reserved matters application for land in Cambois, and an update on Section 106 agreements¹.

Data Centre Reserved Matters Application

The committee was scheduled to consider a reserved matters application relating to land at the former power station site on the northern side of Cambois. The application, reference 25/02911/REM, concerned access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping, following outline planning permission 24/04112/OUTES. The plans included two data centre buildings, ancillary office space, a security gatehouse, landscaping and infrastructure on Phase 1 of the data centre campus.

The report pack stated that outline planning permission had previously been granted for up to ten data centre buildings of Class B8 use² totalling up to 540,000 square metres, in addition to ancillary structures, a substation, emergency generators and other associated works.

The proposed works for Phase 1 included:

• Vehicular and pedestrian access roads, parking with EV charging bays and EV chargers
• A 3m wide footpath and cycling path
• Cycle shelters and refuse storage facilities
• External landscaping and site furnishings
• Secure perimeter fencing
• A fire tank compound comprising a fire pump house, sprinkler tank, and wholesome water plant room
• An attenuation pond
• Associated soft and hard landscaping, including site access points
• Utility connections and below-ground services
• A security guardhouse constructed of similar materials to the data centre and access-controlled gates
• Two 'Freedom parks' next to the Data Centre parking with timber retaining walls and seating and 9m, 12m and 10m flag poles for flags and a statue
• Palisade fencing and gates around boundaries and in between the data centres and across access points
• Two identical (although handed versions of each) data centre buildings, each comprising 45,167 square metres ('sqm') gross internal area ('GIA') with three floors of accommodation.

The report pack stated that the data centres would each include:

• A central hall that houses the computer racks that secure and manage digital data. These computer racks are located between plant areas dedicated to providing the critical IT infrastructure needed for operation, including a network of cooling and electrical systems to maintain optimal performance.
• An equipment yard consisting of electrical plant is consolidated alongside the data halls to reduce distance to servers and enable efficient distribution of services.
• Front of house and back of house support blocks to include office accommodation, network rooms, storage space, and loading bays;
• A loading bay at each end of the facility for efficient movement of goods to accommodate the data centre's logistical needs
• At roof level, chillers for cooling, that help keep the computers at the right temperature. Chilled water is distributed via a resilient closed loop pipework system to either Fan Wall Units ('FWUs') for air cooling, or Coolant Distribution Units ('CDUs') for liquid cooling of IT equipment. Air-cooled chillers are provided with a large noise attenuation pack to limit the overall sound power level
• Each data centre building is supported by 55 diesel-powered generators, located in an external gantry over three levels. These provide emergency power to the IT systems during a power failure and can operate at full capacity for up to 48 hours using on-site fuel reserves. An additional generator, also 2600 kW, is provided specifically for the admin and office areas and follows the same design standards.
• Each data hall has eight separate power lines to make sure it always has electricity. These are supported by special units called Energy PODs, which are small buildings that contain all the electrical systems needed to run the data halls, including backup batteries and cooling to keep everything at a safe temperature. There is also an extra backup POD in case one fails.
• Power is managed and distributed using six secure rooms in each building. These keep the equipment safe from dust and moisture. The system is designed so that if one part breaks or needs maintenance, the rest can keep working without any interruption.
• External plant gantry compounds, housing the necessary electrical plant;
• External plant compound for fire water storage and pumping.

The report pack noted that the data centres had been designed to include provisions for a District Heating Network³ within the mechanical system design to capture and reuse waste heat.

The report pack stated that one objection had been received, raising concerns over:

• Water Use and Resource Sustainability
• Energy Supply, Grid Capacity & Interconnector Use
• Diesel Generators and Emissions
• Visual and Landscape Impact
• Environmental Credits and Offsetting
• Governance and Oversight

The planning officer's report recommended that the application be granted, subject to a Section 106 agreement⁴ to secure the biodiversity net gain proposed habitat creation and enhancement and its subsequent management for 30 years through a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, and a monitoring fee of £11,669, as well as a number of planning conditions.

Section 106 Agreements Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the monitoring and collection of Section 106 agreements. The report, prepared by Elizabeth Sinnamon, Head of Planning, Place and Regeneration, provided details of new agreements completed during September and October 2025, as well as awards paid.

New agreements listed in the S106 Update included:

• 24/03278/FUL, Land North of Aldi, Cowpen Road, Blyth
• 25/00108/S106A, Land south of Greensfield Farm, Weavers Way, Alnwick
• 25/00548/OUT, Land at the Orchard, Lancaster Park, Cramlington
• 24/02561/FUL, Land at Alnwick Squash Club, 33 Bondgate Without, Alnwick
• 24/03553/FUL, Land Southeast of Mooredge House, Longhorsely
• 24/03278/COU, The Nightfold, Shepherds Hill, Alnmouth, NE66 3NG
• 25/00714/FUL, Plot 5, Land South of Seabank, Chalet Site, Spittal
• 25/01695/FUL, 13 East Ord Gardens, East Ord
• 25/01671/Ful, Land SW of Chollerton First School
• 23/04395/FUL, North of Honeysuckle Cottage, Widdrington
• 24/02522/FUL, East Barn, Guyzance Hall, Guyzance
• 24/02790/FUL, Chauffeurs Cottage, Guyzance Hall, Guyzance
• 24/03506/FUL, Land to East of Felkington, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
• HB005, Land at Colwell Wood, Stiddlehill Common, West Woodburn, Hexham
• 23/04664/ful, Land NW Filling Station, Stannington
• 24/01889/FUL, Land SW of Hogshead Inn, Hawfinch Drive, Cawledge Business Park, Alnwick
• 25/01496/S106A, Land at Seton Hall, Ord Road, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2UT
• 25/01199/FUL, at Westgate Labs, Middle Stobswood, Widdrington Station
• 25/01193/FUL, 31A Castlegate, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1LF
• 25/02653/FUL, Organon, Shotton Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 3JU
• 25/00730/FUL, Land at Halton Grove, Corbridge
• 24/03631/FUL, Berwick Youth and Community Centre, 5 Palace Street East, Berwick

Awards paid included £23,740 for the Hexham Playzone project, £13,000 for an unspecified playzone, and £250,000 for the Felton GP Surgery.