County Durham to focus on growth, culture and community in 2025

That is the message from Cllr Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County council, as she reflects on how the council has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, regeneration and community engagement.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood Leader of Durham County Council (Image: Durham County Council)Despite the challenges facing local government, transforming County Durham into a thriving hub for residents, businesses and visitors alike is a continuous story in which the statistics already back up significant progress.

According to the latest STEAM figures –calculating the volume and value of visitor economy – Durham’s expenditure rose by 18.8 per cent in 2023 to £1.23bn, with more than 20.15m people visiting last year, an increase of 12.5 per cent.

Employment in the tourism and hospitality sector also increased by 12.4 per cent meaning more than 13,000 people are full-time employed in that sector and a further 2,619 employed through the supply chain.

All indications, following another year of investment and regeneration across County Durham, suggest those healthy figures have continued in 2024 heading into 2025 with even more improvements planned.

Durham County Council’s new culture, heritage and registration venue, The Story, opened in the summer (Image: Durham County Council) Cllr Hopgood said: ‘It is easy to look at the negatives in the world, but look at the positives over the last 12 months and what more is to come.

‘What has been achieved over the past year has been phenomenal in terms of aspiration and delivery for the people who live, work and visit here.’

With strong foundations in place, Durham County Council is looking ahead to an exciting year with a diverse range of initiatives in the pipeline.

The 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway will be marked with a series of events across County Durham as well as the two towns that gave the rail-line its name.

The Locomotion Museum in Shildon will host a special exhibition showcasing the history of the railway and its impact on the region. Visitors can also enjoy steam train rides along the historic line, offering a glimpse into the golden age of rail travel.

The phase three expansion of NETPark, the North East Technology Park, is well underway, with Filitronic signing up as the first tenant. Pictured are: Michael Tyerman, chief financial officer at Filtronic; North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness; NETPark project director, Janet Todd; and Leader of Durham County Council, Cllr Amanda Hopgood (Image: Durham County Council) Lumiere, the UK’s leading light festival, will once again transform Durham City into a nocturnal wonderland. This free event will feature breathtaking installations from artists, illuminating iconic landmarks like Durham Cathedral and hidden corners with captivating displays of light and colour.

Following a major refurbishment, the former Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery will act as a new cultural venue offering a meeting place and creative hub.

Chester-le-Street’s Seat Unique Riverside will host England v West Indies for both men and women, with top class women’s cricket also going to be played by Durham there.

And the Redhills Miners Hall, a historic landmark in Durham, is set to become a vibrant community hub and cultural centre after undergoing extensive renovations.

This iconic building, once the headquarters of the Durham Miners’ Association, played a pivotal role in the region’s mining history, serving as a meeting place for miners and a symbol of their collective strength.

STACK, a popular leisure and retail destination, will open in both Durham City and Bishop Auckland, with work also set to begin on a new leisure centre in Bishop Auckland.

All of this, among other improvements, will coincide with the council launching a charitable trust to support cultural venues and unlock access to additional funding.

Cllr Hopgood said: ‘It is incredibly exciting; with something happening for everyone. A lot of people don’t realise how diverse the council is.

‘Everybody looks within their own areas, that’s understandable, but we are the eighth biggest council in the country. We represent 535,000 people, covering countryside to the coast, with our city and 12 towns.

The new soft play area at the Louisa Centre in Stanley (Image: Durham County Council)

‘For context, we have more than 2,500 miles of roads, 2,300 miles of footpath and more than 1,400 structures, so given the size of the county, to be able to deliver what we are doing is immense.’

Such diversity is reflected in the council’s wide-ranging initiatives, which cater to the needs of residents across urban and rural areas.

With its commitment to innovation, community engagement and sustainable development, Durham County Council is attempting to build a brighter future for all and that is highlighted by the progress made over the last 12 months.

From the expansion of Jade Business Park, Murton, towards the east coast to the £100 million third phase of NETPark near Sedgefield to the conversion of the former Rookhope primary school into a business centre in Weardale, there have been investments in projects that benefit communities.

New attractions like the council’s brand new development The Story at Mount Oswald and the 1950s town at Beamish have enriched the cultural landscape, while festivals and events have revitalised town centres and promoted community engagement.

There have been renovations of leisure centres in Peterlee, Spennymoor, Barnard Castle and Stanley, providing residents with access to modern and accessible facilities.

A major road improvement scheme to increase capacity at the A19/A182 junction to support the expansion of Jade Business Park (Image: Durham County Council) Cllr Hopgood said: ‘Over the coming months, we will see the opening of a new Bishop Auckland bus station, and work will begin on a new Seaham Energy Centre that will provide energy and heat for 750 affordable homes through a revolutionary mine water heating system to help the drive towards net zero.

‘We’ve also funded specialist markets in many of our towns, from Consett to Chester-le-Street, with local groups in many towns picking these up and expanding on them.’

Durham County Council has also launched its Into the Light programme, which will bring forward some of the projects that earned County Durham a place as a finalist for UK City of Culture 2025. It is hoped that projects will empower communities and inspire young people to work in creative industries.

And the historic signing of the North-East ‘trailblazer’ devolution deal – completed in Durham during a visit from then Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young – has secured over £100m in funding for the region, supporting projects in housing, transport, and economic regeneration.

Through her role as portfolio holder for culture, tourism, sport and the arts on the North East Combined Authority, Cllr Hopgood also plays a key role in promoting cultural and economic growth across the wider region and highlights potential for greater collaboration and shared opportunities.

Cultural events such as Bishop Auckland Food Festival help to boost the economy and attract more visitors (Image: Durham County Council) She added: ‘We can lead by example by what we do in County Durham and how we have developed that over the last few years.

‘It’s just 12 minutes between Durham and Newcastle on the train, so we can open up this cultural and tourism sector in the wider region for so many of our visitors.

‘People wouldn’t think twice about spending half-an-hour on a Tube ride from Kings Cross to Westminster on a visit to London, but people think a lot differently about commuting between Durham and Newcastle in half of that time.

‘“We are so lucky to have the natural assets of the coast, the countryside, two world heritage sites, three cities, numerous towns and areas of natural beauty in our part of the world.

‘Not only that, but in terms of sport, we have first class cricket, Premier League and Championship football on our doorstep, success stories for men and women. We are so lucky to live where we are and Durham County Council is proud to have a huge part to play in that.’

The investment in culture and infrastructure promises to further boost the visitor economy and enhance the lives of residents for years to come in County Durham and beyond.