Image credit: Soul2Sand
DPP Planning is very pleased to announce that two schemes involving our teams have been shortlisted in the RTPE North East Awards 2026. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding projects across the North East.
The schemes shortlisted are ‘Blyth Market Pavilion’, and the ‘Seaton Valley High School and Whytrig Community Middle School’ development. Each of these projects have been shortlisted for both ‘Best Project’ and the ‘North East Chair’s Award’. The latter recognises projects that have made environmental and social improvements throughout development.
The announcement marks the third time in recent months that Blyth Market Pavilion has been shortlisted for an award, with the project also being recognised at the CENE and Insider awards. The scheme was developed for Northumberland County Council with FaulknerBrowns as lead architect, and utilised state-of-the-art digital tools to improve coordination, enhance efficiency and reduce on-site waste.
The pavilion was built by Kier Construction, which utilised advanced construction methods and advanced modelling software to deliver a high‑quality end result.
DPP was also involved in the Seaton Valley High School (SVHS) and Whytrig Community Middle School (WMS) development. The schools have been relocated and rebuilt to create modern, high-quality educational facilities, establishing them as Northumberland’s first operational Net Zero Carbon schools. The SVHS and WMS campus provides a future-ready learning environment for 1,020 students and 177 staff, supporting contemporary teaching methods.
The campus also features indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including a swimming pool, all-weather pitches and multi-use games areas (MUGAs). Each of these are accessible and well-used by the community, encouraging better health and increased sports participation. In addition, the site’s sensitive landscaping enhances biodiversity, while its sustainable design and energy-efficient features minimise environmental impact, ensuring it delivers lasting educational, environmental and community benefits.
The awards dinner takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle on the 26th June. Congratulations to all of those at DPP involved in the projects and best of luck for awards night, we’re delighted to see that your hard work is being recognised.
