The Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss updates on the County Durham Housing Strategy, the County Durham Plan, the quarter two forecast of revenue and capital outturn, and the minutes from the County Durham Economic Partnership Board meeting held on 16 September 2025.

County Durham Plan Update

The committee are scheduled to receive an update on the new County Durham Plan (CDP). The CDP, which was adopted on 21 October 2020, sets out the local planning framework for County Durham.

The report pack states that the National Planning Policy Framework requires local plans to be reviewed every five years. A review of the CDP has been undertaken, and it was agreed by the cabinet on 15 October 2025 that a new CDP should be developed, because the government has issued a revised NPPF that would increase the council's current annual housing figure from 1,308 to 2,011.

The Planning Policy team are working towards a consultation on a Vision and Spatial Options document, which will set out potential options for meeting housing needs across the county, as well as other issues such as employment land, town centres and environmental policies.

The report pack notes that a number of evidence studies are in production, including:

• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and Water Cycle Study (WCS)
• Employment Land Review (ELR)
• Green Belt Assessment (GBA)
• Open Space Needs Assessment (OSNA)
• Strategic Housing Market Assessment
• Traveller Needs Assessment
• Waste Needs Assessment
• Vision Led Transport Assessment

The council issued a 'call for sites' in June, inviting submissions of land considered suitable for development. By the closing date of 5 September, 840 sites had been submitted.

The report pack states that site assessment work has started on these submissions, and that this will draw on expertise within the council in fields such as heritage, highways, landscape and flood risk.

The committee will also note that a member's steering group has been established, including the cabinet and the chairs of the four planning committees, which has met twice to contribute to the emerging strategy and evidence studies.

Update on the County Durham Housing Strategy and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the delivery of the County Durham Housing Strategy 2025 and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029.

The County Durham Housing Strategy, which was approved by cabinet in January 2025, sets out the strategic direction for housing activity in County Durham, with a vision to provide good quality housing that meets everyone's needs, is affordable for local people and supports the creation of great places to live.

The report pack states that the Housing Strategy sets the following priorities for action:

Priority 1: Increase the delivery of new housing, including secure, affordable housing to meet housing needs together with the infrastructure required.

Priority 2: Ensure that everyone has access to appropriate, safe and secure housing that support health and wellbeing.

Priority 3: Ensure high quality, energy efficient houses and effective landlord services.

Priority 4: Ensure a comprehensive range of housing options for older and vulnerable people, disabled people and children and young people, including specialist accommodation and support.

Priority 5: Ensure high quality placemaking, creating safe, accessible, prosperous and sustainable places to live

The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (HRSS) (2024- 2029) was adopted in July 2024. The priorities of the strategy are:

Priority 1: Prevent people from becoming homeless

Priority 2: Improve access to and supply of accommodation

Priority 3: Ensure the appropriate support is available for people who are homeless (work with partners to build resilience in people)

Priority 4: Reduce Rough Sleeping

The report pack states that a new Strategic Housing Board has been established, along with two steering groups to provide oversight and scrutiny of the two strategies.

Quarter Two Forecast of Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/26

The committee is scheduled to receive details of the forecast outturn position for quarter two revenue and capital for Regeneration, Economy and Growth as at 30 September 2025.

The report pack states that there is a forecast underspend of £0.650 million, against a revised budget of £43.026 million. The revised service capital budget is £78.646 million with expenditure of £24.637 million as at 30 September 2025.

Minutes from the County Durham Economic Partnership Board

The committee will review the minutes from the County Durham Economic Partnership Board (CDEP) meeting held on 16 September 2025 at New College Durham.

According to the minutes, Glyn Llewellyn (GL), Chair of the CDEP, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Attendees included Alan Smith from Believe Housing, Andy Broadbent from New College Durham, Chris Kelsey from the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, Duncan Peake from Raby Estates, Glenn Martin from Durham County Council, Graham Soult from Durham Business Group, Kate Burrows from Durham Community Action, Kirsty Wilkinson from Public Health, Michelle Cooper from Point North, Reshma Begum from the Federation of Small Business, Richard Baker from Durham University, Sarah Slaven from Business Durham, Sue Parkinson CDEP Vice Chair, and Tony Hanson from Durham County Council.

The board discussed a presentation from Libby Ward on 'Let's Talk Co Durham', a consultation platform launched in January.

Glenn Martin gave a presentation on the Department for Business and Trade's (DBT) backing your business plan for small and medium sized businesses.

Sue Parkinson provided a Vice Chair update, noting that all UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) monies are now in the delivery phase and that a workshop will be held on 30 September to gather ideas and feedback to inform revisions to the delivery plan for the coming year.