Durham County Council says it will recommend for approval a plan that promises 31,400 new homes; 9500 sq m of new retail floorspace and land for warehousing and offices.

Planning

The County Durham-wide plans, which include proposals for each of the county’s 12 main towns and for rural areas, are expected to be agreed next month and set the agenda leading up to 2030.

If approved, the strategy would be referred to the Government for approval and could be adopted by 2015.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic development, said: “We welcome the positive feedback and appreciate the time everyone has taken to give us their comments. This is a hugely important document and we look forward to it getting the formal go-ahead and are ready to make sure it is implemented over the next few years.

“The aim is to set the framework for a vibrant and prosperous County Durham where people want to live, work, invest and visit. We believe that the proposals we are putting forward represent the best and most effective way of delivering growth for our communities.“

Key housing development is proposed in Durham City, Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe as well as major employment sites at Aykley Heads and Newton Aycliffe, including the Hitachi site.

Consultations so far on the plans have yielded nearly 4,000 comments from more than 1,200 people and 116 organisations.