Our Development Management Service

It handles around 4000 planning applications a year and covers a diverse range of environments including the Durham Dales, the Durham City World Heritage Site, Heritage Coastline along with a mix of towns and villages in between.

In recent years the service has developed an unmatched reputation in the region for pragmatism and an ability to drive forward the major development schemes crucial to improving the economic base of the county. The county is presently benefitting from £3.6 billion worth of major inward investment projects and the Development Management Service has played the lead role in securing many of these investors by ensuring an outcome focussed approach to service delivery and a clear understanding of the role of planning within the wider corporate framework.