Durham County Council is currently consulting on a ‘Call for Sites’ as part of the beginning of their evidence-gathering process to prepare a new Local Plan. Once adopted, the new Local Plan will replace the current plan which was adopted in 2020. 
The Council has recently agreed the below timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan:

• Scoping and early participation: March 2025 – September 2025
• Plan Visioning – October 2025: March 2026
• Evidence gathering and drafting of the Local Plan: May 2026 – October 2026
• Submission to Secretary of State (Regulation 22): July / August 2027
• Local Plan Examination – September 2027: March 2028
• Local Plan Adoption: April 2028

The Call for Sites is an opportunity to put forward any new development sites, or continue to promote an existing allocation or identification, to establish whether Durham County Council is likely to support the principle of development proposed for your site, or the potential to promote it for inclusion in the future Local Plan. 

Each submitted site will be individually assessed for housing, employment, leisure, or other uses, as per the relevant submission. The methodology against which sites are assessed includes the suitability, availability, and achievability of the site for the proposed use. The final document will be an evidence-based document that supports the new Local Plan. 

By submitting your site for assessment, Durham County Council can understand their land availability across the county and assess whether your site can support delivery of the county’s future development needs.

The Council welcomes all submissions through their consultation portal. The consultation is running for 6 weeks from 30 June 2025 until 15 August 2025. 

Our team can support the preparation of a comprehensive representation and demonstrate that your site is suitable, available, achievable, and deliverable. We are also able to assess any on-site or surrounding planning constraints and consider whether it meets current planning policy objectives. If you would like our advice on how to best present your site, please contact us to discuss further.

Laura Dixon
Director - Head of Planning Consultancy North East & Yorkshire
07395 885 515
LDixon@lsh.co.uk

Jess Nicholson
Assistant Planner - Planning Consultancy
07566 777 121
JNicholson@lsh.co.uk