Help shape Bishop Auckland town centre’s future
Durham County Council (DCC) are starting work in Bishop Auckland with their partner Urban Foresight to find out your views and ideas about how you would like to see the town develop over the next 10 years.
They want this plan to be developed with our communities, so its important that you tell them what you would like to see for the future.
They want to hear from the people who live and work in Bishop Auckland to help shape the future of your town. They want to understand your thoughts on its strengths and opportunities, what can be improved and what we’d all like Bishop Auckland to be in the future.
There are no existing ideas in mind, this vision will be directly shaped by the people of Bishop Auckland from the very beginning.
Over the next eight weeks, DCC will be talking to people in the streets, at transport hubs, bus stops, shopping centres, organising drop-in meetings, listening to children and young people in schools, visiting community meetings and local organisations to find out your thoughts on the town’s strengths, opportunities, and challenges, and your hopes for its future.
Visit the Lets Talk County Durham page for more information and to have your say on this public consultation.
DCC Consultation Link: https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/projects/ba-strategic-place-plan-copy
Phase three of this consultation closes on 1 March 2026.
20/02/2026 – Town Council’s comments on this Consultation:
Bishop Auckland Town Council welcomes the opportunity to respond to Durham County Council’s consultation on the Bishop Auckland Strategic Place Plan (SPP). We support the intention to develop a long‑term, community‑led vision for the town and recognise the value of shaping Bishop Auckland’s future through engagement with residents, businesses, and local stakeholders. The emphasis on building the vision directly from community input is noted and appreciated. We met with Urban Insight in September and welcome further engagement opportunities.
- Support for the Strategic Place Plan Process
The Town Council acknowledges that Bishop Auckland has benefited from significant investment over the past decade, including The Auckland Project, Kynren, and funding from national programmes such as the Future High Streets Fund, Stronger Towns Fund and Heritage Action Zone. The SPP’s stated purpose, to develop a locally led vision and future action plan through collaborative engagement is strongly supported by the Town Council.
We agree that now is an appropriate time to refresh the strategic direction of the town, given changes in retail behaviour, transport use, and demographic shifts.
- Comments on the Proposed Boundary Map
Durham County Council has invited feedback on whether the draft town centre boundary map has omitted any important areas that influence the town’s identity and function. The SPP boundary is currently defined as being bounded by the A689 and Etherley Lane to the west, Westfield Road to the south, North Bondgate to the north, and Kingsway through to Beech Road in the east, with some wider influencing areas also noted.
The Town Council wishes to make the following observations:
- The existing boundary map does not fully reflect the functional extent of Bishop Auckland, particularly in relation to the significant growth areas at Tindale and the established community of South Church, both of which residents widely recognise as part of Bishop Auckland.
- The SPP references key influencing areas such as Kynren, Auckland Palace Park, South Church Enterprise Park, Binchester Roman Fort and Bishop Auckland College, several of which lie outside current parish boundaries, yet are considered integral to the town’s footprint.
- The discrepancy between the functional town area and parish boundaries highlights the need for a review of Town Council boundaries to ensure that local governance reflects the lived reality of residents.
We therefore request that the SPP boundary is reconsidered to include these significant areas of influence, recognising that they contribute to the town’s economic, social, and cultural profile.
- Importance of Boundary Alignment and Local Governance
The Town Council notes that following the recent County division boundary review, the Town Council’s boundaries no longer align with the DCC ward boundaries. This creates practical challenges in representation, community identity, and forward planning.
Given the SPP’s long‑term role in informing spatial, economic and action plans for Bishop Auckland, it is essential that governance structures are coherent and reflect the communities they serve. The Town Council has been proactively seeking a parish boundary review since 2023/24, recognising that its last review occurred when the Council was formed in 2007.
We therefore encourage Durham County Council to progress the boundary review process in parallel with the development of the SPP, to ensure both pieces of work are aligned and mutually reinforcing.
- Strengths, Opportunities and Challenges
In line with the consultation’s request for local perspectives on Bishop Auckland’s strengths, opportunities and challenges, the Town Council offers the following:
Strengths
- Strong cultural and heritage assets, including Auckland Castle, Kynren, and the wider offer of The Auckland Project.
- Historic market town character and strategic location between the Durham Dales and Durham City.
Opportunities
- Development of improved sustainable transport and pedestrian connectivity between the town centre, Tindale, and railway station.
- Greater utilisation of heritage assets to drive sustainable tourism and economic growth.
- Reinvigoration of outdoor markets and support for local businesses.
Challenges
- Fragmented development, particularly the separation between the town centre and Tindale retail area.
- Decline in traditional retail, leading to vacant units and under‑utilised high street spaces.
- Accessibility issues and limited public transport integration.
These local insights reflect the Council’s day‑to‑day engagement with residents and stakeholders.
- Partnership Working
The Town Council wishes to formally request recognition as a key partner in the development of the SPP. As the first tier of local government, we are uniquely placed to support community engagement and help shape practical, deliverable actions.
We would welcome further involvement in:
- workshops,
- draft vision review sessions,
- stakeholder planning meetings, and
- the development of the final action plan.
- Engagement with the Local Community
The Town Council supports the SPP’s programme of public and stakeholder engagement, including on‑street sessions, drop‑in events, outreach to schools, businesses and community organisations, and the online consultation platform. We will actively encourage our residents to participate and ensure that local voices are heard.
Conclusion
Bishop Auckland Town Council supports the Strategic Place Plan and its aims to build a long‑term community‑led vision for the town. We believe that the success of the SPP relies on meaningful alignment between the functional town area, governance boundaries, and strategic planning aspirations. We therefore request that Durham County Council:
- Reconsiders the proposed boundary map to better reflect the geographic and functional reality of the town.
- Progresses a Town Council boundary review alongside the SPP.
- Engages the Town Council as a formal partner throughout the SPP development process.
We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Durham County Council to ensure a thriving future for Bishop Auckland.