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| FOREWORD | |||
| The Council's vision for the People and City of Durham is of Flourishing Communities and Durham as a Capital City. Twenty-six villages and a town with its very different constituent parts, make up the District of Durham. Each one of these parts of our whole has different histories, characteristics, aspirations and needs which must be respected so that they can all flourish. The Local Plan provides the framework within which growth, change and new opportunities can develop. | |||
| Durham is uniquely special, offering us a good place to live, to shop and to visit, as well as being the driver of economic development, not only for the whole of the District but also throughout the Region. Our World Heritage site and nationally renowned University give us important assets on which to build to achieve economic well being and secure our futures. This Plan must protect and enhance what is good, and improve and evolve Durham where desirable, and ensure that our best assets continue to improve all our lives. | |||
| The City of Durham Local Plan, which replaces the 1988 Local Plan, sets out a land use policy framework that will guide new development over the period to 2006, its two core aims intend to express this vision. It seeks to encourage sustainable economic growth and regeneration, promote inward investment and conserve and enhance the unique character of the City and District. By doing so we seek to ensure the quality of life for future generations. | |||
| This will be achieved through ensuring that development is properly and effectively planned to continue the protection and enhancement of Durham City, and the surrounding villages and the countryside. At the same time the plan provides the opportunity to integrate economic, environmental and social factors into decisions about where to locate growth, improve the quality of the environment and enable an enduring quality of life. It provides certainty for both the community and developers as to future development in the district. | |||
| This document was the subject of extensive public consultation, which was followed by a Public Local Inquiry; this gave parties who had made comments and objections to the Plan the chance to put their case to an independent Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate. The Council carefully considered all comments made, through the various stages of the plan preparation process, and this plan reflects, where appropriate, those comments. The Council would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals, organisations and groups who contributed to the policies and proposals throughout the local plan preparation process. The document is the stronger for that participation. | |||
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| Cllr S Pitts Leader of the Council |
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