14/08/2026
COUNTY DURHAM LOCAL PLAN SCOPING CONSULTATION.
The Parish Council has now submitted its response to Durham County Council's Local Plan Scoping Consultation.
In summary, we highlighted:
✅ The need for new development to be supported by the infrastructure people rely on, including roads, healthcare, schools and community facilities.
✅ The importance of recognising that rural communities have different needs and opportunities from larger towns, and that a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work across County Durham.
✅ A preference for making the best use of brownfield land before considering development on greenfield sites.
✅ The need to protect and enhance our landscape, wildlife, heritage assets, trees, hedgerows and green spaces.
✅ The importance of providing the right mix of homes, including affordable housing for young people and families, together with suitable housing for older residents, so that people can remain within their community at all stages of life.
✅ Support for thriving local communities through the protection of community facilities, public rights of way, open spaces and sustainable tourism.
✅ The need for development to be proportionate to the size and capacity of individual settlements, taking account of local services, infrastructure and environmental constraints.
✅ Our view that the assessment of sites submitted through Durham County Council's Call for Sites process should be published for consultation, allowing residents and communities to understand how sites are being assessed and to comment before future allocations are made.
These points reflect the Parish Council's commitment to"Conserving Our Past: Building Our Future" by protecting the character, heritage and environment that make our community special, whilst supporting sustainable growth, appropriate housing and opportunities for future generations.
A copy of the Parish Council's full response is available from the Parish Clerk on request by email -
[email protected]
