Durham council launches new £264m capital programme

Cabinet members at Durham County Council approved several new capital investments this week, which include funding for special educational needs provision – in line with the council’s ‘care emergency’ to reduce pressure on looked after children placements. 

Investments in improving roads and footpath maintenance, street lighting, drainage works, and the local transport network have also been included. 

Andrew Husband, council leader, said the planned investments formed part of an “ambitious capital programme, which reflects the care emergency and the priorities we have set out to improve the lives of our residents.”

The schemes will be funded by corporate borrowing, self-financing and additional grant funding. 

Among the new investments is £26 million for a new special school at Villa Real, Consett, and £33.5 million in special educational school provision, including a £13.5 million investment in new facilities at Fyndoune, Sacriston. There are also plans to invest £7 million towards Durham Cares, aimed at alleviating pressures on children’s services. 

The further acquisition of 40 properties for temporary accommodation, at £2.6 million, will help “tackle the blight of homelessness” and create new properties to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families, reducing reliance on costly holiday lets and B&Bs.

Meanwhile, the towns and villages enhancement project will receive £5 million for the regeneration of Chester-le-Street, Consett, Seaham, Barnard Castle, and Ferryhill.

Up to £47 million has been proposed for road maintenance and repairs, including potholes.  

Setting out the Reform-led authority’s proposals at a cabinet meeting, Cllr Husband said: “These investments need to happen, and in some cases have been long overdue, reflecting oversight and negligence from previous administrations. This cabinet has a much clearer focus and set of priorities. 

“I am proud to lead a party who are investing so heavily in measures to tackle the care emergency, address long-standing inadequacies in provision for children with special educational needs, and children in our care.”

Last October, funding previously allocated for the economic regeneration schemes at the Jade Business Park in Murton and South Church Enterprise Park in Bishop Auckland was pulled from Durham County Council’s capital programme. Alternative investment and funding opportunities will be explored. 

A significant investment in the delayed Durham Milburngate scheme has also been scaled back after the former coalition in charge of the council suggested buying it for £55 million. 

Cllr Husband added: “We are not into costly vanity projects or expensive gimmicks. We are focused on investing in assets, which make a real difference to people’s lives.”