We are keen that local people have the opportunity to influence major decision affecting Bishop Auckland.
We will therefore ask your opinion on major changes proposed by the Town Council that affect the town.
We also encourage local people to respond to consultation being undertaken by Durham County Council (DCC) that have an affect on the town. A link to their consultations is included on this page.
Planning Applications
Durham County Council is responsible for making decisions on planning applications within Bishop Auckland. All applications are subject to consultation. Bishop Auckland Town Council and any individual can comment on applications.
We receive a weekly list of planning applications. Those within the Town Council's area are published below to allow public scrutiny at a local level. Anyone wishing to comment, support or object to a planning application should submit their views to Durham County Council as it makes decisions. You can do this by following links contained in the documents below. You can also copy your submission to the Town Council so that your views can be taken into account by the Town Council's Planning Committee.
All applications are considered by the Town Council's Planning Committee to decide whether comment is required. Dates of meetings together with links to agendas and minutes can be found on our Decision Making page.
Full details of all planning applications are available on the County Durham online planning application system. You can also search for applications using the application reference, a keyword, postcode or by a single line of an address and view the current status of any application.

The Let's Talk Platform
Let’s Talk County Durham provides a space for you to be actively involved in local decision-making, deciding together what should happen.
On here you will find all the different ways in which we are engaging our communities right now which can include ideas' collection, voting, discussions, surveys, polls, online mapping, and participatory budgeting.
Current consultations
DCC Budget proposals for 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/27-2029/30 19 September, 2025
Durham County Council (DCC) have developed their annual Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to meet the ambitions and priorities of our new leadership following the local elections in May 2025. […]
Read moreDCC Exceptions to the Empty and Unfurnished Properties and Second Homes Council Tax Premium 19 September, 2025
Durham County Council (DCC) are considering making changes to the Section 13A policy which provides discretionary exemptions to the Council Tax premium on empty and unfurnished properties and second homes. This […]
Read moreDCC Let’s Talk County Durham Consultations
Visit the Durham County Council (DCC) – Let’s Talk County Durham page, for a full list of all current consultations in the County Durham area. Let’s Talk County Durham: https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/ […]
Read morePrevious consultations
Durham County Council is responsible for making decisions on planning applications within Bishop Auckland.
All applications are subject to consultation. Bishop Auckland Town Council and any individual can comment on applications.