Member Meeting – 25th March 2026

1. INTRODUCTION – Nick Gholkar

Nick Gholkar opened the meeting and provided updates on Developing Consensus activity:

• An email regarding membership fees will be sent out this week, with yearly membership invoices to follow the week after.
• The Developing Consensus Newsletter was introduced. Each local authority will have a dedicated page for updates on key appointments, developments and consultations. The newsletter will be issued quarterly in line with meetings. Work is under way to establish key contacts within local authorities, with the first edition expected before the June meeting.
• Pillar group leads were introduced to the membership. Sign-up sheets were available for members wishing to join any group.
• Fergus Trim (Broadoak Asset Management) was noted as the Inward Investment lead and absent at the meeting due to his attendance at the North East Vision event on behalf of the pillar group. The group has a draft positioning paper and is keen to engage new members, particularly investment and leasing agents.

2. NPPF CONSULTATION – Sam Curtis

(Slides included)

Sam Curtis provided an overview of the Planning Pillar Group’s response to the NPPF consultation:

The Planning Pillar Group has been active on several fronts since the last meeting.

The group submitted representations on the proposed NPPF reforms, focusing on three key areas: the role of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs), Objectively Assessed Need (OAN), and viability. On SDSs, the group broadly supports their introduction as sub-regional coordination tools but recommends a 10-year review cycle rather than the proposed 5 years. On viability, the group raised particular concern that the proposed standardised approach fails to account for regional differences, and would disproportionately impact lower-value markets like the North East. The group is strongly advocating for site-specific viability assessments to remain permissible on all development proposals. Overall, Developing Consensus supports the NPPF’s emphasis on housing delivery, though these concerns remain. The government is currently analysing responses, with a final updated NPPF expected in summer 2026.

The group has also met with Heads of Planning across the seven Local Planning Authorities to discuss key pressures including resources, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and LLFA matters, and has met with the House Builders Federation.

A key upcoming initiative is an Empowerment Workshop for Heads of Planning and case officers across LPAs. The workshop aims to foster mutual understanding between the development industry and local authorities, share best practice across the region, and reposition planning as an economic enabler. Topics will cover site finding, local plans and policy context, planning applications and technical requirements, and post-approval delivery.

The group’s broader strategy is to contribute to SDS development, advocate for planning reform, and continue building relationships across all seven LPAs.

Members interested in joining the Planning Pillar Group were also encouraged to sign up.

3. PILLAR GROUP UPDATES

Each pillar group lead provided a brief overview of their group’s activity and goals.

Enabling Development – Simon Elliot

Simon Elliott provided an overview of the Enabling Development Pillar Group’s activity to date. The group has been working to develop a positioning paper, bringing together perspectives from across the membership to set out a clear and collective view on the key issues affecting development enablement in the region.

The group is now looking to move into its next phase, inviting new and existing members to come together to reconfirm the positioning paper and map out priorities going forward. Members interested in getting involved were directed to the sign-up sheet at the back of the room.

Infrastructure – Laura Emmerson

The Infrastructure Pillar Group works closely with authorities and public sector partners to identify transport priorities and support development programmes, ensuring the right infrastructure is delivered in the right locations to provide value. The group also works alongside partners to encourage increased investment in digital infrastructure, energy, and grid infrastructure.

Since the group was established, it has been active on a number of engagements:

• Responded to the NPPF consultation on transport and infrastructure points
• Participated in the NECA stakeholder focus group session
• Took part in the DC/NECA Transport Plan engagement session

The group is now looking to refocus, invite new members and map out short, medium and long term priorities for infrastructure across the region. Members interested in joining were directed to the sign-up sheet at the back of the room.

4. JUNIOR CHAPTER – Pippa Heron

• A re-launch of Junior Chapter meetings has been agreed.
• A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed.
• Junior Chapter meetings will sit just before full member meetings so that feedback can be relayed to the wider membership
• The Junior Chapter also now has its own steering group that will feed into the pillar groups
• The Junior Chapter is currently providing feedback on a Newcastle relocation document produced by Newcastle Council.

5. STRATEGIC REGENERATION FRAMEWORK (SRF) – Pippa Heron 

Pippa Heron introduced the Newcastle Gateshead Strategic Regeneration Framework (NGSRF), presenting the proposed approach and inviting discussion from members.

In terms of programme, baseline analysis has been completed with stakeholder engagement carried out through March. A draft SRF Strategy and Delivery Strategy is due to be shared with the client team by the end of April, with a full draft to be submitted to Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council for approval to consult in June. Public consultation is earmarked for September, with finalisation of the SRF targeted for the end of 2026.

The session opened into a discussion with members, with a number of points raised:

• A question was raised about the long-term trajectory of the two authorities – specifically whether Newcastle and Gateshead could actually effectively become a combined city region over the next 30 years
• Michelle Percy raised the need for a clear delivery mechanism, stressing that what members need from the SRF is clarity on how the vision translates into action, and that this should inform how Developing Consensus positions itself in engagement with the framework.
• Members highlighted and echoed the importance of the SRF being clear and specific about its priorities – a clear articulation of what matters most will be essential for effective engagement.
• Members indicated they would welcome suggestions on how best to engage with the process going forward.

Nick Gholkar suggested that Developing Consensus establish a sub-task group through the Enabling Development Pillar Group to engage formally with the SRF process. Developing Consensus will be a key stakeholder in the SRF, and the sub-task group will ensure the private sector has a structured and meaningful voice as the framework develops.

Pippa added that a number of Developing Consensus members had already been identified to invite to 1-1 initial feedback sessions.

6. MIPIM ROUND-UP & UK REiiF – Alex Wright & Molly Lymn

Alex Wright provided a round-up of key themes from MIPIM, followed by a Q&A with members.

The Newcastle delegation delivered 15 on-stand events with 40+ key stakeholders joining the delegation, supported by 21 public and private sector partners. On-stand events covered three key themes: Culture, Sport and Identity as Economic Drivers; Innovation and Future Industries; and City Growth, Regeneration and Investment.

Key market confidence indicators highlighted included strong performance at Eldon Square, with footfall up 1.7% against a UK average decline of 0.8%, and a £65 million investment by Legends Global into the Utilita Arena. Progress was also noted on AirLink, Forth Yards, Baltic Place and Pilgrim Quarter, alongside the forthcoming launch of the Mayoral Development Zone.

Key learnings from the event were as follows:

• The UK remains a highly attractive and stable global investment market, with investors citing confidence in long-term economic fundamentals and regulatory certainty.
• NewcastleGateshead’s major developments are gaining strong traction and are positioning the region as a compelling investment hub.
• Public-private collaboration is a recognised competitive advantage, with the unified regional approach differentiating Newcastle from other UK and European cities.
• There is a strong appetite to deepen collaboration with other UK cities to amplify the North’s offer.

Molly Lymn introduced the UK REiiF agenda:

Molly Lymn introduced the North East’s partnership offer for UK REiiF 2026.

The regional delegation is led by Mayor Kim McGuinness and the Combined Authority, in partnership with all seven regional local authorities and private sector partners. 

The North East stand, the Water Pavilion, is a 10m x 10m space in a prime position alongside the London Pavilion, Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. It has a capacity of 100+ and will host three days of content, an interactive AI screen, and a sustainable and regenerative design.

Two partnership packages are available which Molly urged members to come forward if interested.

A number of questions were raised about the UK REiiF programme yet to be released, with members stating that their diaries were getting fuller without any events from the North East delegation.

Members were told the programme would be shared as soon as possible.

7. CLOSING REMARKS – Nick Gholkar

• Members were reminded to sign up to pillar groups.
• Next meeting: 17th June, 9:30am–12:00pm – Durham