Durham County Council announced it must create a new local plan after the government recently increased housing targets and updated planning politics.
Known locally as the County Durham Plan, it sets out a range of development proposals as well as planning policies for the county until 2035.
Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said: “A new plan is essential to keep our county fit for the future by delivering the kind of development that we need, and crucially in the right locations.”
It also covers town centre improvements and wider economic developments. “The County Durham Plan is not just about housing, said Conservative councillor Richard Bell, “It’s important we do everything we can to keep our town centres vibrant, which the council is doing with some success.”
But, describing the council’s decision making as “the backbone of the English planning system”, the cabinet member for finance said the democratic role of councillors should not be diminished.
He added: “The bill has been warmly welcomed by developers, and there’s a reason for that: it greatly reduces the ability of councils to regulate planning. I have a deep sense of foreboding about where these changes are taking us.
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“It is vital we have a new County Durham Plan to facilitate new development and safeguard our residents from inappropriate development as far as possible.”
Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes also warned of the impact the changes could have on the council’s planning powers. “The government’s changes to housing targets, which have been imposed on counties across the country, are putting the protection of green belt farmland at risk,” the Liberal Democrat said.
“It’s essential that the public join in the public consultation on the County Plan revision, and it’s important that we protect the open spaces that could be damaged by Labour’s latest planning nightmare. They are trying to rip up councillors’ and residents’ democratic right to challenge planning applications.”
