Planning

Durham County Council holds information about common land and village greens, as well as Local Agenda 21 and listed buildings.

In County Durham there are still two tiers of local government (the County Council and seven District and Borough Councils) and town and country planning functions are subdivided between them. However, from the 1 April 2009 local government structures in County Durham will be reorganised and a new Unitary Council will be created. Up until this date the District and Borough Councils are responsible for deciding most planning applications in County Durham including those for:

• Householder extensions and alterations - see residential planning or building control.
• New buildings, extensions or changes of use related to housing, industry, shops, offices etc.

For applications or enquiries relating to the above, you will need to contact the relevant District and Borough Council planning departments.

Latest News

As part of work to deliver the new county wide Local Development Framework (LDF) the County Council has been working with District Council's to prepare a new county wide Local Development Scheme (LDS). The county wide LDS was approved by Cabinet on the 20 November for submission to Government Office North East. It sets out the new planning documents which will be prepared by the new Unitary Council in County Durham over the period 2009 -2011. It is available to download from our Local Development Scheme web page.

Further information about the County Durham LDF is available on the County Durham Local Development Framework web page. This web page also contains information relating to a new call for new minerals and waste sites. We are requesting that the minerals and waste industry identify which sites they wish to propose to be considered as new allocations in the County Durham LDF. In addition this web page also contains information on the recently published Strategic Housing Market Assessment for County Durham (published December 2008).

The County Council in conjunction with the seven Durham District Council's have just published a new Annual Monitoring Report for (2007 - 2008). It is available to view on our Annual Monitoring Report web page.

The Durham Geodiversity Audit is now available to view or download from the Geology and Mineral Resources web page. The document provides useful information on the geology of County Durham and its geodiversity. It was prepared for Durham County Council by the British Geological Survey and published in 2004.

Older News

In June 2008 the Council held a stakeholder event to discuss minerals and waste planning issues. Further information can be found on our Minerals and Waste Development Framework Stakeholders Event web page.

Please use the following link to access the 1APP forms and associated guidance notes - the standard planning application form available for download for all proposed developments (except Minerals developments). It is also possible to submit a planning application online via the Planning Portal. In conjunction with your application you should refer to the DCC Validation Checklist document to ensure that you have included all the necessary information with your application.

Information about planning policy:

• County Durham Local Development Scheme
• County Durham Local Development Framework
• Annual Monitoring Report
• County Durham Waste Local Plan
• County Durham Minerals Local Plan
• County Durham Structure Plan
• County Durham Minerals & Waste Development Framework
• County Durham Minerals and Waste Development Scheme
• County Durham Statement of Community Involvement
• Local Transport Plan
• County Durham Accessibility & Parking Guidelines
• Key Planning Terms

Information about planning development control
Planning Development Control deals with all planning applications for minerals and waste matters and the County Council's own development and the following information:

• Online register of planning applications
• Submit a planning application online and pay the planning fee online.
• Environmental Impact Assessments and other consents.
• Planning Committee dates, agendas and reports.
• Applying for Planning Permission including guidance on fees.
• Information on the planning process and the timescales for determining applications. This section also contains information on how to comment on an application.
• Downloadable application forms and certificates.
• Appeals information
• Monitoring and Enforcement including Reporting Development Problems and the Enforcement Register

Durham County Council also deal with other responsibilities and provide specialist advice. These include:

Conservation - here you will find information on archaeology; nature conservation; the County Durham Biodiversity Action Plan; woodland; coastal protection and the County Durham Heritage Coast; and historic buildings and conservation areas.

Find information about the Durham Landscape, including the County Durham Landscape Character Assessment and emerging Landscape Strategy.

Other planning and environmental websites.

How to Contact the Planning Team

Planning Policy
Tel: 0191 3834114
Email: Planning Policy

Planning Development Control
Tel: 0191 3835698
Email: Development Control