Planning Policy

Durham County Council has responsibility for several land use planning policies including:

• County Durham Structure Plan – This document was adopted in March 1999 and sets out the strategic planning policy framework for the development and use of land in County Durham.
• County Durham Minerals Local Plan – This document was adopted in December 2000 and sets out the detailed land use policy framework to guide and control minerals extraction in County Durham to 2006.
• County Durham Waste Local Plan - This document was adopted in April 2005 and sets out the detailed land use policy framework to guide and control waste development in County Durham to 2016.

Implications of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

Durham County Council planning functions have recently changed as a result of the enactment of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and have had the following implications for Planning Policy:

• The County Council is no longer required to prepare a County Structure Plan. In addition Regional Planning Guidance for the North East has now been renamed as Regional Spatial Strategy. Significant future work will be assisting the Regional Planning Body (the North East Assembly) in preparing the North East's Regional Spatial Strategy document.
• The County Council is required to replace its existing Minerals and Waste Local Plans with a new style County Durham Minerals & Waste Development Framework (MWDF) comprising a suite of minerals and waste and local development documents. Preparation of the minerals and waste development plan documents and other local development documents that will comprise the MWDF will form the majority of future work within Planning Policy.
• The County Council is also required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal of all of its minerals and waste development plan documents.
• The timetable for preparing the MWDF is set out in the County Council County Durham Minerals and Waste Development Scheme.
• The County Council's approach in involving local communities and other stakeholders in the preparation of the Minerals & Waste Development Framework and in the consideration of planning applications is set out in our emerging County Durham Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).
• The requirement for County Durham District and Borough Council's and neighbouring authorities to replace their existing Local Plans with Local Development Frameworks will also have major implications. The County Council will be a consultee on all emerging County Durham and neighbouring authority Local Development Frameworks.

Transitional Status of County Structure, Minerals and Waste Local Plans

Please note that until the policies and provisions of the existing County Structure Plan is replaced by revised Regional Spatial Strategy for the North East the County Structure Plan will continue to form part of the statutory development plan for County Durham. Planning applications submitted to both the county and local planning authorities will continue to be determined against its provisions.

Similarly, until the policies and provisions of the County Durham Minerals Local Plan and County Durham Waste Local Plan are replaced by new minerals and waste development plan documents the existing provisions and policies of these plans will be 'saved' and will continue to form part of the statutory development plan for County Durham. Planning applications for new minerals and waste development will continue to be determined against the provisions of these plans.

Regional Planning

How to Contact Us

For further information on role, functions and publications produced by the Planning Policy team please contact Planning Policy on:
Tel: 0191 3834114
Email: Planning Policy