Transforming communities in County Durham
We are regenerating the county's towns and villages, improving the areas where people live, work and visit. We will speed up this work through our Towns and Villages programme.
The Towns and Villages programme offers and integrated approach to local regeneration and has a county wide investment programme of more than £750 million. We have been able to make this investment by looking at how we spend our money, and by working with our partners. By identifying what is already being invested, we can better align projects, realign budgets to priorities and identify gaps or areas where more support will add value.
Towns and Villages provides opportunities to support our businesses and retailers, revamp our town centres to make them more resilient to changing economic conditions, develop strategic employment opportunities to create more and better jobs, improve access to walking and cycling routes, and tackle housing issues that currently exist, including empty properties and pockets of low demand across the county. County Durham is primarily a rural county. Our rural areas vary widely in character from remote and sparsely populated areas in the Pennine Dales, to the larger villages located within the former coalfield communities. The specific needs of our rural communities are widespread, meaning that issues including rural isolation and community resilience, specific employment and housing needs as well as transport and connectivity are tackled as part of our approach.
The regeneration projects are grouped into 5 themes:
Themes
Strategic investments
The aim of this theme is to create more/better jobs through support for town and neighbourhood centres.
Digital high street
We are monitoring usage in 12 town centres including Durham City, which allows us to work out how our town centres are being used and where regeneration efforts can be focused.
We have also provided free wi-fi in Stanley, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Barnard Castle, and Seaham town centres.
Retail hubs
We offer free Training opportunities for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in areas such as food safety, marketing, and first aid.
We also allow vacant buildings to be used for temporary retail, hospitality, and leisure ventures in-between tenants. This not only reduces the number of empty shops but allows businesses to test trade by taking on short-term leases. The scheme also encourages the development of shared retail spaces, and offers funding to help cover rents, business rates and utility charges.
We have had successful projects in Bishop Auckland, Durham City and Peterlee.
Neighbourhood retail improvements
We can offer a range of Retail support. Projects supported:
Project | Location | Work done |
|---|---|---|
The Village Fryer | Howden-le-Wear |
|
Total Home Improvements | Pelton Fell |
|
Cutting Loose | Ferryhill |
|
The Bridge Inn | Whorlton |
|
Easington Colliery Band | Easington Colliery |
|
The Well Community Café | West Auckland |
|
Walton & Sutherland | Ushaw Moor |
|
Bespoke Café | Sacriston |
|
Lanchester Property Developments | Lanchester |
|
The Day Centre | Spennymoor |
|
Natalie Bowes Hairdressing | Fishburn |
|
J&M Catering | Ferryhill |
|
North Beach Coffee Bar | Seaham |
|
DeMarco's Hair & Beauty | Ferryhill |
|
Caitlin's Sweet Treats & Cakes | Willington |
|
Kingsman Construction | Stanley |
|
SPAR | Staindrop |
|
Pears Boutique | Langley Moor |
|
Sacriston Cricket Club | Sacriston |
|
Santino's Pizza | Sacriston |
|
Head to Toe Aesthetics | Blackhill |
|
Care & Share | Sacriston |
|
3 Sunderland Road | Horden |
|
Waxology | Framwellgate Moor |
|
Fresh Faced Aesthetics | Spennymoor |
|
The Coffee Shop | Murton |
|
Crook Pharmacy | Crook |
|
Beauty As You Wish | Consett |
|
Great North Eats | Willington |
|
Now Lets Travel | Peterlee |
|
Hollathans | Chester-le-Street |
|
Direct Car Parts | Framwellgate Moor |
|
Hellen's Retail (Festival Walk) | Spennymoor |
|
Viva Restaurants | Crook |
|
Hillside Saddlery | Consett |
|
L&D Barbers | Wolsingham |
|
Belle Boutique | Spennymoor |
|
Durham City Market | Durham |
|
Bargain Buys | Newton Aycliffe |
|
Sacriston Post Office | Sacriston |
|
Adore | Coxhoe |
|
The Ginger Dog | Coxhoe |
|
The Bakers Loaf | Stanhope |
|
Faru | Durham |
|
Golden Fry | Tow Law |
|
Mint Business Club | Consett |
|
Simpson's Shoe Repairs | Shildon |
|
Kitts Pool Room | Durham |
|
Coxhoe Foot Clinic | Coxhoe |
|
First Impressions | Wingate |
|
SMGT Lettings | Wingate |
|
The Surtees Arms | Ferryhill |
|
Mapps Insurance | Crook |
|
M&R Commercial | Stanley |
|
Honest Lawyers Hotel | Croxdale |
|
Sylvester Properties | Consett |
|
The Manor | Bishop Auckland |
|
Clemitsons Pharmacy | Crook |
|
Skidmore Properties | Consett |
|
Moon | Durham |
|
Butler & Gee Accountants | Shotley Bridge |
|
Lotus Aesthetics | Stanley |
|
The Studio | Spennymoor |
|
Fusha | Durham |
|
Positive Solutions & Accountants | Consett |
|
Sweet Things Café | Consett |
|
Gills Fry Fry | Horden |
|
Ivy Cottage Butchers | West Auckland |
|
My Dog Barber | Chester-le-Street |
|
M&J Salon | Wheatley Hill |
|
1-3 John Street | Consett |
|
Taras Bridal Fitting Room | Wingate |
|
Manor House Hotel | West Auckland |
|
K&M Bargains | Consett |
|
Elliot Military Surplus | Tow Law |
|
Angel Brow & Beauty | Chester-le-Street |
|
The Top House | New Coundon |
|
Speedo Car Parts | Crook |
|
Super Power Toys | Bishop Auckland |
|
Lumley Fish Bar | Great Lumley |
|
Bellisima | Blackhill |
|
LJ Robley | Framwellgate Moor |
|
Moments Café | Barnard Castle |
|
Treats Café | Durham |
|
Supreme Fitness | Consett |
|
PR Fitness | Willington |
|
Kepis Properties | Ferryhill |
|
Co-Op Funeralcare | Consett |
|
Jeff's Barbers | Consett |
|
St. Cuthberts Hospice | Langley Park |
|
Top Trimz | Leadgate |
|
River Valley Developments | Consett |
|
Everyday Café | Stanhope |
|
Unfiltered Beauty | Consett |
|
Hooch's Snooker Lounge | Consett |
|
High House | Murton |
|
Saks Hair & Beauty | Bishop Auckland |
|
Initial Propco (Belmont) Ltd | Bishop Auckland |
|
Etheridge Estates | Stanley |
|
Towns and village vibrancy
This has helped increase visitors to our towns and supported retail trade.
Projects supported:
| Project | Location |
|---|---|
| Seaham Food Festival | Seaham |
| Bishop Auckland Food Festival | Bishop Auckland |
Housing and community
The aim of this theme is to help increase the goals of our housing strategy, and build resilient, inclusive, and connected communities while making the best use of the money we get from housing developments (S106 money) and private investment.
Housing opportunity fund
We have worked across the County to identify areas of empty residential housing and the demand for smaller scale local residential development. We looked to address long term empty properties in the communities most effected, a problem identified in our Housing Strategy.
Improving community resilience
Example projects include new buildings, extensions, refurbishment, and energy efficiency help. See our Business grants and loans information.
Projects supported:
| Project | Location |
|---|---|
| Alington House | Durham |
| Lowes Barn Community Centre | Durham |
| Peterlee & Horden Rugby Club | Peterlee |
| Woodhouse Close Community Centre | Bishop Auckland |
| Cotherstone Chapel | Cotherstone |
| Fishburn Community Resource Centre | Fishburn |
| Shotton Youth Hub | Shotton Colliery |
| Spennymoor Youth & Community | Spennymoor |
| Brandon Boxing Club | Brandon |
| Framwellgate Moor Community Centre | Framwellgate Moor |
Green homes fuel efficiency
The project has also secured additional funding and aligns to the priorities of our Housing Strategy.
Environment and health
The aim of this theme is to improve the environment and create local opportunities for physical activity. We want to encourage mental well being through a high quality environment.
Enhanced environmental maintenance
This was identified as a priority for many local communities. Projects supported in:
- Haswell
- Shildon
- Framwellgate Moor
- Sherburn Village
- West Rainton
- Brandon
- Tow Law
- Annfield Plain
- Crook
- Carrville
- Thornley
- Spennymoor
- Seaham
- Barnard Castle
- Frosterley
- Wheatley Hill
- New Brancepeth
- Chester-le-Street
- Durham City
- Consett
Built environment
The aim of this theme is to encourage and support regeneration activities by finding innovative solutions for underused/derelict land and buildings, supporting independent retailers and businesses to achieving more/better jobs, and providing clean and attractive towns and villages that communities are proud of.
Vulnerable buildings
We have provided financial support and worked with owners to redevelop buildings and creating new businesses and jobs.
We have also used law to make sure that owners keep their buildings safe and secure.
Where no other option is possible, we have had to demolish properties.
Projects supported:
| Project | Location | Work done |
|---|---|---|
| The Village Inn | Sacriston | Demolition of vacant premises and grassing over |
| Former Kelly's Bakery | Annfield Plain | Demolition of large vacant premises and building of car park |
| The Royal | Stanley | Replacement of 17 windows to the front and side of the property, installation of roller shutters to the rear doors |
| Durham Dramatic Society | Durham | Replacement of windows and repointing to brickwork |
| High Fry | Langley Moor |
Property re-use and conversion
The loan is repayable, and targets buildings that can contribute to an area's decline. For more information about the loan scheme, see our Business grants and loans information.
Projects supported:
- Day Centre, Spennymoor
- Castle Eden
- Seaham
- Bishop Auckland
- Durham City
- Peterlee
Dean Bank clearance and improvement
We are working with Bernicia to demolish 36 properties and landscape the area.
Easington Colliery programme
The former Easington School site was bought and demolished. The future end use and redevelopment opportunities are currently under consideration.
Sacriston workshop conversion
The building had stood empty for a number of years. This phased investment programme supports Sacriston Workshops CIC. The group's vision is to restore the former Co-operative Buildings to their original purpose. They plan to create a key hub of small enterprises with strong links to the local community.
The building will house a series of charities and social enterprises. These will bring direct benefits to the community in Sacriston and beyond. We gave £200,000 to help with the restoration plans, which are well underway.
The workshops are home to four social enterprises - Sacriston Youth Project, Woodshed, RecycLD, Live Well North East - with plans to attract more.
Sacriston Enterprise Workshops video transcript (PDF, 80 KB)
Transport and connectivity
The aim of this theme is to connect communities for businesses, work, learning and access. It covers the use of well-maintained and connected transport corridors, and encouraging alternative transport including walking and cycling.
Walking and cycling routes
The project has delivered a series of improvements, particularly focussing on linking residential areas to main centres and connecting outlying villages with the main networks.
Project supported:
- North Sea Cycle Route 1 (NCN1) East Durham
- Hart to Haswell
- Sea to Sea (C2C) Consett
- Auckland Walk surface upgrade
- Brandon to Bishop Auckland
- Waskerley Way to Whithall
Neighbourhood parking and circulation
The project has addressed locally raised issues around car parking and traffic in local shop areas. Car parks have been created in residential areas
Projects supported:
- Shildon
- Wheatley Hill
- Framwellgate Moor
- Newton Hall
- Blackhall
- Seaham
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