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County Durham Plan

26th of June, 2026

County Durham Plan (Planning development)

The cycle of review of Durham County Council’s Local Plan is back, with a Scoping Consultation having commenced with a closing date of 17 August 2026.  This consultation is the first formal stage in the development of the new Local Plan and offers an early opportunity to help shape its direction.  The Local Plan is a significant document as it will guide where new homes, businesses and infrastructure will be built, while also protecting treasured green spaces and heritage.  

Why a new Plan is needed

A full update of the current Plan (adopted in 2020) is required due to:

  • Changes to national planning policy
  • Updated requirements within the National Planning Policy Framework
  • A significant increase in assessed housing need

A new plan-making system

The new Plan will be prepared under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, with regulations introduced in March 2026. This introduces a more streamlined approach to plan-making, including:

  • A focus on locally specific priorities
  • A clearer distinction between plan-making and decision-making policy
  • A target 30-month timeline for adoption

The Plan will also need to align with the emerging North East Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) being developed at a regional level.

What the Scoping Consultation covers

Within the Scoping document, the consultation sets out early thinking on:

  • Housing growth and spatial options.
  • Economic development and employment land
  • Infrastructure and transport
  • Environmental protection and climate considerations
  • Place‑based priorities across the county

The Scoping document presents questions in survey format, on key themes that the plan will cover, inviting views before any detailed policies or site allocations are drafted.

A simplified survey has also been prepared as part of the consultation materials to help residents highlight their key issues.

Key themes for partners

We ask that you consider key themes and implications for the development of a new Local Plan covering:

  • Your place and your priorities
  • Future development – where should it go?
  • Housing needs
  • Jobs and the local economy
  • Transport and movement
  • Environment
  • Community facilities and local services
  • Health, food and local quality of life

Next steps

The new Local Plan follows a clear timetable of development, beginning with this eight-week scoping consultation which ends on 17 August 2026. Following review and analysis of all the feedback the County Council will undertake a formal self-assessment during September 2026.

Further public consultation will take place in March 2027, focused on proposed content for the Local Plan, followed by consultation on the proposed Local Plan document in Autumn 2027.

Further information

For further details and to take part visit Help shape the new Local Plan for County Durham