Durham County Council planning applications
Data as of 5 November 2026
Durham County Council decided more than 3,000 planning applications in the twelve months to 5 November 2026. It refused 6% of those it approved or refused, lower than the middle UK council (9%), and took a median of 55 days to decide one.
Look up one application
Search by reference or address on Durham County Council’s own planning portal. Or ask Claude, with the PlanningLedger connector, to find it and read its officer report and decision notice (mcp.planningledger.com).
Recent major decisions
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2 November 2026 · Approved
Land To The East Of Daleside Cross Lane Sacriston · DM/25/02128/FPA
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30 October 2026 · Approved
Land To The East, South And West Of Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane Blackhall Rocks TS27 4BT · DM/25/01964/FPA
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30 October 2026 · Approved
Site Of Former Weardale Works And Quarry Eastgate DL13 2LG · DM/24/00957/MIN
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28 October 2026 · Approved
Land To The North Of York Hill Road Spennymoor DL16 6YP · DM/25/01781/FPA
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28 October 2026 · Approved
Erection of 13 dwellings with associated infrastructure, car parking and landscaping (amended)
Site Of Former Horndale Working Mens Club Meadowfield Way Newton Aycliffe · DM/22/02987/FPA
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26 October 2026 · Approved
Erection of 70 dwellings and associated infrastructure
Land East Of Buckingham Terrace Leeholme DL14 8JJ · DM/25/03184/FPA
Figures for Durham County Council
| Applications decided | more than 3,000 |
|---|---|
| Share refusedof those approved or refused | 6%middle UK council 9% |
| Median time to a decisionfrom the valid date | 55 daysmiddle UK council 55 days |
| Householder applications refusedextensions, lofts, outbuildings | Not enough typed decisions |
| Appeals decidedin the last three years | more than 200 |
| Appeals allowedof those decided on their merits | 28%about one in four |
| Officer reports and decision notices searchable | back to 2017 |
| Local Plan policies held | 76plan adopted 2020 |
What inspectors decide appeals on
In their own words, from recent appeal decisions on Durham County Council’s planning applications.
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“The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the landscape.”
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“The main issues are: • The extent to which feedstock and digestate disposal can be facilitated from within the farm unit. • The extent to which the proposal accords with the Development Plan in respect of the management of agricultural…”
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“The main issues are: • the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including its effect on trees; • whether the proposed development would be in an appropriate location, with respect to nearby settlements; and…”
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“The main issue is the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.”
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“The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”
How we count, and what each figure leaves out: methodology. The council’s own register is the record, and each application links to it.