Gainford to press on with village plan

NEW fears for the County Durham Plan should not affect a dale village strategy according to councillors.
The future of the much maligned County Durham Plan was put in doubt again after it was revealed a government white paper could stall its implementation. But Gainford and Langton Parish Council heard how the village’s neighbourhood plan could be an unexpected beneficiary of the uncertainty.
In an update, Cllr Linda Britton said: “I do not necessarily think the Durham Plan being on hold is a bad thing for us. We have been advised in the past if we did our plan in concurrence with Durham, or ahead of the county plan, they would take on board a lot of our recommendations.”
Neighbourhood plans can help establish general planning policies and land use in a parish – as long as they’re in “general conformity” with the “local plan”.
But with Teesdale’s last local plan drawn up in 2002, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is given more weight to keep planning legislation up to date.
Cllr Britton revealed consultations with villagers for the neighbourhood plan would begin in January.
She added: “We want to keep it open rather than ask specific questions.”
Cllr Sarah Hannan added: “It’s to our advantage to carry on – it means any housing agreed within the village would be incorporated into the council’s plan and then they would be able to show it is deliverable.
“It is very much in their interests to support us.”
Recommendations for the type and amount of housing will be set out in the county plan but it is expected the new government white paper in January will change the calculation method.
County officials have feared the plan may be out of date by the time it comes out.