Development Plan supporting documents

Evidence library

Our main County Durham Plan evidence base sets out the supporting materials for the County Durham Plan.

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and Register of Brownfield Land

The SHLAA and brownfield register identifies sites within County Durham which have the potential for housing development and the development of brownfield land and form part of the evidence base for the County Durham Plan.

Open Space Needs Assessment (OSNA)

The OSNA identifies open space across the county. It shows what the open space is (for example allotments, parks or play areas) and how much space is available. The OSNA helps to calculate how much open space is needed within new housing schemes.

Our latest Open Space Needs Assessment is available on our County Durham Plan evidence base and you can also view this using our mapping tool below.

OSNA map

Assessment of the County Durham Plan

The County Durham Plan must be sustainable, protect habitats and must not discriminate against anyone. Formal appraisal processes are in place to assess this. Find out more about the Assessment of the County Durham Plan.

Supplementary Planning Documents

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) provide detail to support CDP policies. SPDs must be taken into account (they are material considerations) when making decisions on planning applications.

County Durham Building for Life SPD (2019)

This SPD sets down design standards for major new residential development, based on the Building for Life 12 (BfL 12) - the industry standard for the design of new housing developments. We follow the standards in this document as part of our planning approvals process - where appropriate.

• County Durham Building for Life Supplementary Planning Document (PDF) [11MB]
• County Durham Building for Life Supplementary Planning Document appendices (PDF) [241KB]

Residential Amenity Standards SPD (2023)

This SPD provides guidance on extensions and other domestic developments.  It also sets down guidance on external space/amenity standards for new dwellings.  

• Residential Amenity Standards Supplementary Planning Document (PDF) [332KB]
• Residential Amenity Standards Supplementary Planning Document appendices (PDF) [347KB]

Parking and Accessibility SPD (2023)

The guidelines for parking and accessibility have been devised to help everyone understand how much parking space is required on development sites. They are designed to make sure there is enough parking at our homes and for our shops and employment locations. A higher provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Points will also be required at places of employment, supermarkets and other retail development. The guidelines also have been designed to encourage the use of more sustainable modes of travel including walking, cycling and use of public transport.

• Parking and Accessibility Supplementary Planning Document (PDF) [1MB]
• Parking and Accessibility Supplementary Planning Document adoption statement (PDF) [174KB]
• Parking and Accessibility Supplementary Planning Document statement of consultation (PDF) [582KB]

Trees, Woodlands and Hedges SPD (2024)

This SPD sets out guidance to ensure that trees, woodlands and hedges are fully considered as part of the planning process, so that the multiple benefits they provide can be experienced by the residents of, and visitors to, the county. It provides background information and guidance on protecting features through the development process so that they can be integrated into new development including new planting. It also provides information on Tree Preservation Orders and trees in Conservation Areas.

• Trees, Woodlands and Hedges Supplementary Planning Document (PDF) [6MB]
• The adoption statement is available in Officer decision: REG 2865 - Adoption of Supplementary Planning Documents (Table 3) (Part A).

Development Viability, Affordable Housing and Financial Contributions SPD (2024)

This SPD sets out our approach to deciding and ensuring developer contributions for new development (such as housing). It recognises that developments that include an increase in new housing can affect the physical, social and environmental surroundings due to the increased demand for services and increased use of facilities as a result of the additional people. By enuring developers provide financial contributions, the effects can be reduced and, where possible, bring positive benefits for the local area.

• Development Viability, Affordable Housing and Financial Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (PDF) [9MB]
• The adoption statement is available in Officer decision: REG 2865 - Adoption of Supplementary Planning Documents (Table 3) (Part A).

Solar Energy SPD

This SPD sets out guidance for solar development serving residential, business, leisure and community uses and commercial scale solar farms. It covers key planning issues associated with solar development including landscape character, biodiversity, heritage assets and agricultural land. The SPD seeks to ensure panels are appropriately sited and designed.

• Solar Energy supplementary planning document (PDF) [2MB]
• The adoption statement is available at REG 3016 - Adoption of the Solar Energy Supplementary Planning Document (Table 3) (Part A)

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)

The Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) monitors the effectiveness of planning policies and proposals within a Development Plan over its plan period. We adopted our new Development Plan, the County Durham Plan on 21 October 2020. We have now published our second AMR of the adopted Plan, 2021/22.

County Durham Local Aggregate Assessment (2023)

The preparation of a Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA) on an annual basis is a requirement of the National Planning Framework (NPPF). It is a key technical evidence base document for both plan making and for making decisions on planning applications for aggregates working. The principal focus of the LAA is to ensure that a steady and adequate supply of aggregates (crushed rock and sand and gravel) can be maintained in the long term thereby ensuring the supply of the construction materials required by the economy and society.

• County Durham Local Aggregate Assessment (December 2023) (2022 Sales & Reserves Data) (PDF) [1MB]
• County Durham Local Aggregate Assessment (April 2023) (2021 Sales & Reserves Data) (PDF) [935KB]

County Durham Waste Technical Paper (2023)

This Technical Paper sets out evidence of waste and its management to support the monitoring and review of the County Durham Plan and the Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations document. It presents information and analysis of waste information collected by the Environment Agency and by us, to inform the County Durham Plan Annual Monitoring Report and the future review of our waste needs assessment. It also provides an up-to-date evidence base to make decisions on planning applications for waste development where need is a consideration. 

County Durham Waste Technical Paper (PDF) [1MB]