Neighbourhood planning - what's happening?

See if a neighbourhood planning group in the area you live or work in is producing a neighbourhood plan, and what stage they are at.

We are legally required to make these documents available for inspection, but some are supplied by external organisations and may not be accessible. If, for any reason, you cannot access the documents and need an alternative format, please Contact Strategy and Delivery (planning).

Current consultations

There are no current consultations.

Middridge Neighbourhood Plan

The consultation has now ended. An Independent Examination of the Neighbourhood Plan will now take place. See the table below for updates.

A-Z neighbourhood plans - progress to date

The list below sets out neighbourhood plans which have progressed beyond the designation stage and are currently active or adopted. There are seven stages that a neighbourhood plan has to go through which are shown on our Neighbourhood planning step by step process web page. If an area is not listed, it is likely that no neighbourhood planning activity has started for that area.

If you are interested in pursuing neighbourhood planning we recommend you contact your local parish or town council in the first instance and before contacting us. If you are interested in setting up a neighbourhood forum in an unparished area, please Contact Strategy and Delivery (planning) for more information.

Place	Latest stage and documents	Documents from previous stages
Brancepeth	Stage 1- neighbourhood area approved Brancepeth NA designation Approval Notice and Map (PDF) [484KB]
Belmont	Stage 1- neighbourhood area approved Belmont NA designation Approval Notice and Map (PDF) [1MB]
Cassop-cum-Quarrington	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Cassop-cum-Quarrington adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [24MB] (document provided by external organisation)	Stage 6 - referendum Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan - Decision Statement (PDF) [88KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [24MB] (document provided by external organisation) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan – Information Statement (PDF) [395KB] Notice of Referendum - Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [94KB] Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [98KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington basic conditions decision statement (PDF) [172KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington decision statement (PDF) [132KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF) [82KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Examiner's report Cassop-cum-Qarrington Parish Council: neighbourhood plan examiner's report (PDF) [371KB] Representations sent to the examiner: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan Reg.16 Consultation Responses (PDF) [186KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan Summary Reg.16 Consultation Responses (PDF) [1MB] Questions raised by the examiner and responses: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council - Examination of CcQ Neighbourhood Plan - responses to Examiner’s Questions (PDF) [335KB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan Examination (PDF) [208KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council: neighbourhood planning Cassop-cum-Quarrington public notice (PDF) [335KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Cassop-cum-Quarrington Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2035 (pre-submission draft) (PDF) [8MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Cassop-Cum-Quarrington neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [1MB] Cassop-cum-Quarrington neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [1MB]
Chilton	Stage 1- neighbourhood area approved Chilton Neighbourhood Area designation Approval Notice and Map (PDF) [216KB]
Consett	Stage 1- neighbourhood area (NA) and neighbourhood forum (NF) approved Consett NA and NF designation approval notice and map (PDF) [453KB] Consett Forum application and constitution (PDF) [889KB] (document provided by external organisation)
Cotherstone	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan - Referendum version (PDF) [12MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan decision statement (PDF) [157KB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan - Information Statement (PDF) [616KB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan - Basic Conditions Decision Statement (PDF) [82KB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan - Decision Statement (PDF) [135KB] Notice Of Referendum - Cotherstone Parish (PDF) [91KB] Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - Cotherstone Parish (PDF) [87KB] Declaration of Result - Cotherstone Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - 07 July 2022 (PDF) [83KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan - Regulation 16 consultation responses (PDF) [149KB] Cotherstone NP Durham Examiners Questions (PDF) [122KB] Cotherstone NP Durham Procedural Note (PDF) [92KB] Cotherstone NP - qualifying body response to examiner questions (PDF) [151KB] Cotherstone NP - council responses to examiner's questions (PDF) [153KB] Examiner's Report Cotherstone Parish Neighbourhood Plan examiner's report (PDF) [345KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Cotherstone Parish Neighbourhood Plan draft submission (PDF) [17MB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan Basic Conditions Statement (PDF) [1MB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement (PDF) [10MB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan Screening Opinion Report (PDF) [115KB] Cotherstone Neighbourhood Plan Public Notice (including map) (PDF) [926KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Cotherstone Parish Council: Neighbourhood Planning Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Cotherstone neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [505KB] Cotherstone report, including neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [522KB]
Coxhoe	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Coxhoe neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [664KB] Coxhoe neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [449KB]
Dene Valley	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Dene Valley application notice (PDF) [138KB] Dene Valley neighbourhood area designation notice and map (PDF) [618KB]
Durham City	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Durham City adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [12MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Durham City Neighbourhood Plan - Decision Statement (PDF) [86KB] Durham City Neighbourhood Plan - Referendum Durham City Neighbourhood Plan - Information Sheet (PDF) [277KB] Notice Of Referendum - Durham City Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [67KB] Declaration of result - Durham City Neighbourhood Planning Referendum May 2021 (PDF) [87KB] Durham City neighbourhood plan - decision statement - proceeding to referendum (PDF) [182KB] Durham City neighbourhood plan - decision statement - basic conditions (PDF) [92KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Examiner's report Durham Neighbourhood Plan - examiners report (PDF) [1MB] Representations sent to the examiner: Durham City NP - Summary of representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [291KB] Durham City NP - Summary of Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [160KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Durham City NP - Proposal 2019 (PDF) [6MB] Durham City NP - Basic Conditions Statement-Final October 2019 (PDF) [855KB] Durham City NP - Consultation Statement Final October 2019 (PDF) [373KB] Durham City NP - Sustainability Appraisal Report October 2019 (PDF) [3MB] Durham City Neighbourhood Plan - Notice (PDF) [207KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Durham City Neighbourhood Plan Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Amended Durham City neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [61KB] Amended Durham City plan area map (PDF) [1MB] 2017 draft Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Durham City Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [14MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Durham City neighbourhood planning forum constitution (PDF) [66KB] Durham City plan area map (PDF) [4MB]
Gainford and Langton	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Gainford and Langton neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [496KB] Gainford and Langton neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [6KB]
Great Aycliffe	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Great Aycliffe adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [6MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Great Aycliffe decision statement (PDF) [132KB] Declaration of Results - Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [13KB] Decision Statement – proceeding to referendum (PDF) [581KB] Referendum Information Statement (including information for voters) (PDF) [648KB] Basic conditions decision statement (PDF) [110KB] Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan (version for referendum) (PDF) [9MB] Stage five - independent examination: Examiner's Report (PDF) [710KB] Summary of representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [369KB] Summary of Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [264KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation: Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan - draft submission (PDF) [6MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area agreed: Great Aycliffe neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [407KB] Great Aycliffe neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [257KB]
Lanchester	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Lanchester adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [17MB] Lanchester adopted neighbourhood plan: appendix 1 (PDF) [14MB] Lanchester adopted neighbourhood plan: appendix 2 (PDF) [12MB] Lanchester adopted neighbourhood plan: appendix 3 (PDF) [10MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan - Decision Statement (PDF) [87KB] Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan - Referendum Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan - Information Sheet (PDF) [283KB] Notice Of Referendum - Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [67KB] Declaration of result - Lanchester Neighbourhood Planning Referendum May 2021 (PDF) [87KB] Lanchester neighbourhood plan - decision statement - proceeding to referendum (PDF) [141KB] Lanchester neighbourhood plan - decision statement - basic conditions (PDF) [97KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Examiner's report Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan – Examiners report (PDF) [432KB] Questions raised by the examiner and responses: Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan – examiner's questions and answers 12 March 2020 (PDF) [204KB] Lanchester NP - Examiner’s procedural note (PDF) [97KB] Lanchester NP - Examiners Questions (PDF) [158KB] Representations sent to the examiner: Lanchester NP - Summary of representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [112KB] Lanchester NP - Summary of Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [34KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Lanchester NP - Submission Draft October 2019 Full Document-Final (PDF) [16MB] Lanchester N P - Basic Conditions Statement Final Version (PDF) [2MB] Lanchester neighbourhood plan – consultation statement October 2019 (PDF) [2MB] Lanchester NP - Submission Draft Screening Report (PDF) [2MB] Lanchester NP - Public Notice Reg16 October 2019 (PDF) [146KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Lanchester Neighbourhood Plan - Pre-Submission Consultation - June 2019 (PDF) [7MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Lanchester neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB] Lanchester neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [567KB]
Middridge	Stage 5 - independent examination Representations sent to the examiner: Middridge Neighbourhood Plan summary of responses (PDF) [209KB]	Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Middridge Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2023-2038 - Submission Proposal (PDF) [3MB] (document provided by external organisation) Middridge Parish Neighbourhood Plan - Basic Conditions Statement (PDF) [1MB] (document provided by external organisation) Middridge Parish Neighbourhood Plan - Consultation Statement (PDF) [2MB] (document provided by external organisation) Middridge Parish Neighbourhood Plan - Screening Report (PDF) [1MB] Middridge Parish Neighbourhood Plan - Public Notice (PDF) [400KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Middridge Neighbourhood Plan - pre-submission draft (PDF) [12MB] (document provided by external organisation) Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Middridge neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB] Middridge neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [1MB]
Oakenshaw	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Oakenshaw adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [2MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Oakenshaw Neighbourhood Plan - Decision Statement (PDF) [87KB] Oakenshaw Neighbourhood Plan - Referendum (PDF) [2MB] Oakenshaw Neighbourhood Plan - Information Sheet (PDF) [233KB] Notice Of Referendum - Oakenshaw Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [67KB] Declaration of result - Oakenshaw Neighbourhood Planning Referendum May 2021 (PDF) [87KB] Oakenshaw - Decision Statement - proceeding to referendum (PDF) [183KB] Oakenshaw - Basic Conditions Decision Statement (PDF) [191KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Examiners report: Oakenshaw - Examiner's Report (PDF) [382KB] Representations sent to the examiner: Oakenshaw - Summary of representations sent to the examiner. (PDF) [63KB] Oakenshaw - Summary of Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [112KB] Questions raised by the examiner and responses: Oakenshaw - questions raised by the examiner (PDF) [99KB] Oakenshaw - responses to examiner questions (PDF) [227KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Please visit Greater Willington Town Council to see the plan and supporting documents. Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Oakenshaw parish Council - Pre-submission draft Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [827KB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Oakenshaw neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [530KB] Oakenshaw neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [291KB]
Pelton	Stage 1- neighbourhood area approved Pelton neighbourhood plan area approval notice and map (PDF) [357KB]
Sedgefield	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Sedgefield adopted neighbourhood plan 23 October 2019 (PDF) [4MB]	Latest draft Stage 6 - referendum Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - decision statement Reg19 (PDF) [73KB] Declaration of Result Sedgefield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - 12 September 2019 (PDF) [86KB] Sedgefield Referendum Information Statement (PDF) [263KB] Sedgefield Referendum Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [3MB] Sedgefield neighbourhood plan - decision statement - proceeding to referendum (PDF) [169KB] Sedgefield neighbourhood plan - decision statement - basic conditions (PDF) [93KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Examiners report: Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - examiner's report (PDF) [181KB] Questions raised by the examiner and responses: Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - examiner questions and answers 8 May 2019 (PDF) [417KB] Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - examiner questions and answers 30 April 2019 (PDF) [71KB] Representations sent to the examiner: Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [90KB] Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [57KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Sedgefield neighbourhood plan - draft submission (PDF) [2MB] (includes Basic Conditions Statement, Consultation Statement and SEA Screening) Sedgefield neighbourhood plan - public notice (PDF) [389KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Plan (includes Basic Conditions Statement, Consultation Statement and SEA Screening) (to follow) (PDF) [1MB] 2016 draft Withdrawal letter Sedgefield Neighbourhood Plan - 2016 Withdrawal Letter (PDF) [120KB] Stage 5 - examiner's report received Examiner's Report (PDF) [227KB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Sedgefield neighbourhood plan - draft submission (PDF) [2MB] Designation Stage 1 - neighbourhood area agreed Sedgefield neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB] Sedgefield Decision Notice (PDF) [4MB]
Shincliffe	Stage 1- neighbourhood area approved Shincliffe Neighbourhood Area designation Approval Notice and Map (PDF) [578KB]
Startforth	Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Startforth Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2023-2040, Pre-submission draft for community consultation January 2024 (PDF) [31MB] (document provided by external organisation)	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Startforth neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [376KB] Startforth neighbourhood plan report (PDF) [441KB]
Whorlton	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Whorlton Village adopted neighbourhood plan (PDF) [355KB]	Stage 6 - referendum Whorlton decision statement (PDF) [132KB] Declaration of Results - Whorlton Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [14KB] Decision Statement – proceeding to referendum (PDF) [276KB] Referendum Information Statement (including information for voters) (PDF) [306KB] Whorlton Village Neighbourhood Plan (version for referendum) (PDF) [11MB] Report of the Independent Examination (PDF) [553KB] Summary of representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [289KB] Summary of Durham County Council representations sent to the examiner (PDF) [113KB] Basic conditions decision statement (PDF) [232KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Whorlton Neighbourhood Plan Examiner's Report (PDF) [494KB] Stage 3 - pre submission publicity and consultation Whorlton Neighbourhood Plan - draft submission (PDF) [12MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Whorlton neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [508KB] Whorlton neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [894KB]
Witton Gilbert	Stage 7 - neighbourhood plan is adopted Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - Adopted December 2019 (PDF) [7MB]	Stage 6 - referendum Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - Reg19 Decision Statement 241019 (PDF) [115KB] Declaration of Result - Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Planning Referendum (PDF) [56KB] Witton Gilbert Referendum Information Statement (PDF) [356KB] Witton Gilbert Referendum Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [9MB] •Witton Gilbert Referendum Neighbourhood Plan Design Brief (this statement does not form part of the development plan) (PDF) [910KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - decision statement - proceeding to referendum (PDF) [706KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - decision statement - basic conditions (PDF) [172KB] Stage 5 - independent examination Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - examiner's report (PDF) [375KB] Questions raised by the examiner and responses: Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - examiners procedural note (PDF) [105KB] Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - examiner's questions (PDF) [179KB] Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan - DCC responses (PDF) [51KB] Stage 4 - submission publicity and consultation Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - draft submission (PDF) [6MB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - public notice (PDF) [632KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - basic conditions statement (PDF) [236KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - area map (PDF) [364KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - consultation statement (PDF) [2MB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - screening opinion cover note (PDF) [114KB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - screening opinion final report (PDF) [4MB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan - representation submitted to consultation (PDF) [1MB] Stage 3 - pre-submission publicity and consultation Draft Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan (PDF) [6MB] Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Witton Gilbert neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB] Witton Gilbert neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [244KB]

Neighbourhood areas approved

The list below sets out neighbourhood areas which have been approved throughout the county.

Place	Latest stage and documents
Barnard Castle	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Barnard Castle neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB] Barnard Castle neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [306KB]
Bearpark	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Bearpark neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [1MB] Bearpark neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [461KB]
Eggleston	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Eggleston neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [1MB] Eggleston neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [932KB]
Ferryhill	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Ferryhill neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [1MB] Ferryhill neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [917KB]
Haswell	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Haswell neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [1MB] Haswell report, including neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [2MB]
Monk Hesleden	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Monk Hesleden neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [3MB] Monk Hesleden neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [4MB]
Sherburn Village	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Sherburn Village neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [376KB] Sherburn Village report, including neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [503KB]
Shotton	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Shotton neighbourhood area application notice and neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [3MB]
Stanley	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Stanley neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [979KB] Stanley neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [326KB] Stanley neighbourhood plan report (PDF) [524KB]
Tow Law	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved Tow Law neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [280KB] Tow Law neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [770KB]
West Auckland	Stage 1 - neighbourhood area approved West Auckland neighbourhood plan area map (PDF) [210KB] West Auckland neighbourhood area application notice (PDF) [571KB]

Contact Strategy and Delivery (planning)

Email strategyanddelivery@durham.gov.uk
Telephone 03000 263 967

Related information

Shaping your neighbourhood - neighbourhood plans