What’s Your Opinion?

You can read the County Durham Plan ‘Preferred Options’ policies summarised below at: bit.ly/CDPPOF

To comment, write to: FREEPOST Spatial Policy, or email: cdpconsultation@durham.gov.uk

ECONOMY

The CDP’s primary objective can be summed up as “more and better jobs”, and it seeks to deliver economic growth by “locating jobs in the most accessible and sustainable locations”.

Thus, one of the highlights in the Plan is the 3.4 hectare high-tech business park at Aykley Heads – “a once-in-a-generation opportunity”.

The Plan also allocates significant new areas for business at Newton Aycliffe – at Aycliffe Business Park and Forrest Park (totalling 85ha) – which it describes as “sites that will contribute significantly to the economy of the county”. Other new ‘employment land’ is identified at Jade Park (Murton); Project Genesis (Consett); Meadowfield; Integra61 (Bowburn); South Church and NETPark (Sedgefield) – totalling together about a further 122ha. – along with which the Plan protects 1,500ha. of existing business land.

On existing employment sites that are struggling, redevelopment for other uses will be permitted.

VISITOR ECONOMY

Policies 8 and 9 allow visitor attractions and accommodation.

TOWN CENTRES

The CDP cannot force shops to come to County Durham, but Policy 10 seeks to “protect and enhance” retailing by allowing town centre developments, resisting the loss of essential shops and services, and requiring retail businesses which wish to build outside the town centre to pass a ‘sequential test’ which proves they can only locate there.

THE RURAL ECONOMY

In the rural areas of the County, whilst development will not normally be permitted, both Policies 11 and 12 make exceptions for rural businesses.

ENVIRONMENT

Meanwhile, the CDP seeks to protect and enhance the county’s “renowned and high-quality natural and historic environment”. You may wish to look at the following policies to see if you think they provide sufficient protection for our wildlife networks and historic assets:

28: Green Infrastructure

41: Landscape Character

42: Trees, Woodlands and Hedges

43: Biodiversity and Geodiversity

46: Historic Environment

There are also policies specifically to protect the Heritage Coast (39); the North Pennines AONB (40); Durham Cathedral & Castle (47); and the Stockton & Darlington Railway (48).

It is worth noting the difference between ‘Green Belt’ (a government designation only applying around Durham city), ‘Green Wedge’ (a designation in the Sedgefield Local Plan designed to prevent the coalescence of Newton Aycliffe with its surrounding settlements – see map – which is not replicated in the CDP), and ‘green space’ (which the Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan seeks to protect).