The Durham Plan and how this might affect Bishop Middleham
What is the Durham Plan?
Last year Durham County Council invited landowners and businesses to submit expressions of interest to develop land. These developments were
subdivided into land for housing developments and land that would be appropriate for mineral extraction or waste management. Please look at the maps opposite:
Map A shows the proposed site of two large housing developments in Bishop
Middleham.
Map B shows the proposed site of mineral extraction or waste management which is currently operating as Farnless Farm.
As part of the Durham Plan initiative the residents of the county have been asked to contribute their views on the plan.
Importantly there are opportunities for you to say where you would wish future developments to be sited; either around existing towns and regenerating existing urbanareas, or by developing agricultural farmland such as that around our village. The developments suggested above could change the nature of Bishop Middleham and perhaps swell the population by over a third.
The plan will be revealed in April next year and it is important that as many of the village take part in the consultation before the process of planning applications begins.
Completing the survey
The survey is not a response to a planning application (at this stage) but many of the issues that arise in a response to a planning application are relevant. It is mostly a tick box exercise but there are opportunities to enter free text.
It may be helpful to comment on:
- The impact on nature and the environment in developing in rural areas.
- Traffic congestion and safety- there is already an issue with speeding in thevillage, and rush hour and school run traffic could increase substantially.
- Increased noise and nuisance both from building works and substantial increase in
- population.
- The ability of local amenities to cope with increased population, especially the primary school and lack of good public transport to surrounding areas encouraging car use.
- Unknown nature of mineral and waste management development- may haveimplications for odour and visual impact on the approach to the village.
Instead, the council might…
- Favour building around existing larger towns which already have the required transport, commerce and leisure infrastructure.
- Consider regenerating existing town centres such as has been done in Stockton to kick start further developments in job creation and housing etc.
By engaging with the consultation process, we may be able to influence some of the development choices to be made. The deadline for submitting your views is 17th August 2026. Please go to this website to complete the survey: https://placemaker.durham.urbanintelligence.co.uk/p/document/3/.
Thank you for your attention and we will endeavour to keep you informed of further developments via Bishop Middleham Parish Council Website / Facebook page.
