Transport planning in County Durham.
A County Durham proposal should explain how its parking and access arrangements relate to the intended use and the choices available to occupiers. Darlington has its own planning and highway authority.
Parking provision needs an accessibility case
Durham’s planning material includes a Parking and Accessibility SPD alongside the County Durham Plan. Check the current council documents and the relevant use category before committing the site layout to a parking number. A parking calculation also needs to work physically, with usable spaces and manoeuvring.
For a change of use, compare operating hours, staffing, visitors and deliveries with the existing situation. A small floorspace change can have a different transport effect if the pattern of activity changes. Make these assumptions visible in the report.
Where access depends on shared land or a constrained frontage, establish what can actually be delivered. A planning drawing should distinguish the application boundary, highway extent and land needed for visibility or pedestrian improvements.
What to establish before you commission
- Use Durham guidance only within its authority area and check Darlington requirements separately.
- Test the parking layout and servicing movements as well as the space count.
- Explain the operating assumptions behind the traffic and parking evidence.
Guidance reviewed 18 October 2026. Sources: Durham Parking and Accessibility SPD material · Durham planning committee evidence referencing the SPD. Requirements can change; confirm the current documents for the site and application.
For an early budget, our Transport Statement cost guide explains the main fee drivers and the information needed for a quote.
Planning and highway responsibilities
Durham County Council and Darlington. Hartlepool and Stockton are not automatically included in this editorial group; their existing pages remain available separately.
Local highway authorities within this guide: Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council.
The council deciding the planning application, the authority responsible for a road and the owner of land needed for an improvement can be different. Establish all three. National Highways involvement depends on effects on the strategic road network; a county address alone does not determine the consultation scope.
Choose the work that answers the planning issue
Send the location plan, proposed use and scale, latest layout and any highway response. We will identify the work needed and quote for an agreed scope. Survey costs, officer discussions, drawings and revisions should be clear at the outset.
Find advice for your location
Durham County Council and Darlington. Hartlepool and Stockton are not automatically included in this editorial group; their existing pages remain available separately.
The places below share this area guide. Open a location for its council and transport reference information.
Annfield Plain
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Dunston Rail Station, Blaydon Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Barnard Castle
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Check the actual bus services, walking routes and other travel choices available at the site. A location name does not establish accessibility.
Bishop Auckland
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Bishop Auckland West Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Shildon Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Brandon (County Durham)
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Durham Rail Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Bishop Auckland West Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Chester-le-Street
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Durham Rail Station, Heworth Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Consett
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council, Northumberland County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council, Northumberland County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Stocksfield Rail Station, Prudhoe Rail Station, Riding Mill Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Crook
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Bishop Auckland West Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Wolsingham Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Easington (County Durham)
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Horden, Seaham Rail Station, Sunderland Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Ferryhill
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Newton Aycliffe Rail Station, Shildon Rail Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Horden
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Horden, Seaham Rail Station, Hartlepool Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Murton (County Durham)
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Seaham Rail Station, Horden, Sunderland Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Newton Aycliffe
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Newton Aycliffe Rail Station, Heighington Rail Station, Shildon Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Pelton and Ouston
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Dunston Rail Station, Heworth Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Peterlee
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Horden, Seaham Rail Station, Hartlepool Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Sacriston
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Durham Rail Station, Dunston Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Seaham
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Seaham Rail Station, Sunderland Rail Station, Horden. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Shildon
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Shildon Rail Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Bishop Auckland West Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Spennymoor
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Bishop Auckland West Station, Durham Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Stanley (County Durham)
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Dunston Rail Station, Metrocentre Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Ushaw Moor and Bearpark
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Durham Rail Station, Chester-le-Street Rail Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Willington (County Durham)
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Bishop Auckland West Station, Bishop Auckland Rail Station, Shildon Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Wingate
Planning area at the location reference point: County Durham. The wider built up area can cross council boundaries.
Official council contacts: Durham County Council.
Highway authority areas recorded for the built up area: Durham County Council. Confirm the road authority for the exact site.
Rail access point records to investigate: Horden, Hartlepool Rail Station, Seaham Rail Station. These are dataset records within 15 km of the reference point, not evidence of a usable walking route or a frequent service.
Start with the site
Tell us what you are planning and where. We will set out the transport work needed and the next steps.