People are being asked to help shape the future of their county when the consultation on the next stage of the County Durham Plan starts this week.
And members of the public will be able to have their say during a consultation session at Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre next week.
Beginning on Friday (June 22), the six-week consultation will seek people’s views on the ‘Preferred Option’ stage of the plan, which sets out potential development across the county until 2035.
The County Durham Plan provides a vision for future housing, jobs and the environment as well as the transport, schools and healthcare to support it.
The consultation will run until August 3, and people can find out more about the plan as well as joining in the consultation online at www.durham.gov.uk/future.
Starting on Monday (June 25), consultation sessions will also take place across the county where residents can see the plan, ask questions and have their say.
The first is being held at Newton Aycliffe Youth & Community Centre on Monday, 3.30-6.30pm.
Cllr Carl Marshall, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The County Durham Plan will decide what the future of our county looks like so it’s incredibly important that as many people as possible join in and help to shape that future.
“You can have your say online at any time of the day or night over the next six weeks or come along to one of the consultation sessions we’re running countywide and ask any questions you might have.
“With over £3billion currently being invested across the county it’s a very exciting time for County Durham.
“We’ve listened very carefully to the feedback we received last time and come up with a potential plan that we think both capitalises on the current success as well as protecting and improving on what already makes County Durham such a great place to live, work and visit.”
The Preferred Option of the County Durham Plan is based on evidence about the county alongside opportunities and challenges identified by residents and businesses during the previous consultation.
Once the current consultation is completed, the responses will be used to create the next draft of the plan, known as the Pre-Submission Draft.
Further consultation will then be held before that plan, and any further comments, are submitted to an independent examiner who will decide whether the plan can be adopted.