Planning

Have Your Say on the Future of County Durham

Durham County Council is currently seeking views on the development of a new County Durham Plan, and all residents are encouraged to take part before the consultation closes on 17 August.

The current consultation relates only to the County Durham Plan Scoping Document, which focuses on the overall content, priorities and direction of the new Plan. It is important to note that this consultation is not considering individual sites or proposed land allocations at this stage.

How is the Parish Council Supporting Residents?

The Parish Council has discussed the consultation in detail at its meeting held on 21 July 2026, and has agreed a number of actions to help ensure local concerns are heard:

• Writing to Durham County Council to express concerns regarding the inclusion of Green Belt land as potential future development sites.
• Highlighting the significant representations received from residents across the Parish, including concerns relating to land behind Bellerby Drive.
• Seeking clarification from Durham County Council on alternative ways for residents to submit comments where they have experienced difficulties completing the online consultation.
• Encouraging residents to submit their own responses directly to Durham County Council, as individual and collective representations can demonstrate the strength of local feeling.
• Supporting residents who may wish to organise a petition by promoting it through Parish Council communication channels, including the Parish Council website.
• Exploring future opportunities to support wider community engagement once the outcomes of the consultation and subsequent stages of the Plan are published.

The Parish Council remains committed to ensuring that local concerns are clearly communicated throughout the Plan-making process and encourages all residents to make their views known by completing the consultation survey.

Find Out More and Take Part in the Consultation

County Durham Plan Scoping Consultation
Folder: Help shape the new Local Plan for County Durham | Durham County Council

Consultation Deadline: 17 August

There will be further opportunities to comment as the Plan progresses, including consultation on a draft Plan next year, when proposed site allocations and site-specific matters will be considered.

Areas Identified Within Urpeth Parish

As part of Durham County Council’s Call for Sites exercise, which concluded in Summer 2025, it has come to our attention that a number of sites within the Urpeth Parish area were submitted for consideration.

The Council’s Call for Sites exercise has now closed, and the submissions are currently being assessed by Durham County Council. Please note that the sites shown are provided for information purposes only at this stage.

Durham County Council is not currently inviting or accepting comments on these submissions while they are being assessed to determine their:

• Suitability
• Availability
• Deliverability

The findings will be published in Spring 2027, alongside consultation on the proposed Local Plan and supporting evidence.

It is important to note that the inclusion of a site does not necessarily mean it will be allocated in the Local Plan or supported for the proposed development.

Residents will have a further opportunity to comment on any sites when the findings are published and consultation on the draft Plan takes place.

Further information on these submissions can be viewed via Durham County Council’s Call for Sites webpage: County Durham Plan- Call For Sites Submisisons