A new County Durham Economic Strategy 2007-2012 is (as of January 2007) currently being drafted, and a set of priorities and targets for the future economic direction of the County will emerge shortly. Within the new strategy there are a series of six High Level Objectives that detail the broad things the Partnership wants to achieve, a number of Economic Challenges are identified, and a Spatial Investment Framework is proposed, as are a series of Cross Cutting themes and a set of targets against which will be measured.
The County Durham Economic Strategy provides the strategic framework for the economic development and economic regeneration work of more than fifty organisations that together make up the County Durham Economic Partnership. The strategy highlights the key challenges facing the County and sets out the aims, objectives and priorities needed to achieve the strategy’s vision, which is
'...to secure the economic well-being of the County'.
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Durham Economic Strategy 2002_07.pdf (95 pages, 3193kb)
Since the first Economic Development Strategy was published, the Economic Partnership has made considerable progress. The County now boasts 10 business parks and 20 'prestige' industrial estates in a range of sizes and at key locations throughout the County. The County is also home to two of the Region's handful of sites reserved for major inward investment projects, at Newton Aycliffe and South of Seaham. Other large employment sites have also been opened up at Dawdon and Fox Cover and there are several smaller sites serving local needs, including those in the rural parts of the County.
Several major projects have also been completed or are now underway. Work on Bracken Hill has now been completed comprising a total of 14 units and some 3,400 sq m floorspace. The NetPark (North East Technology Park) project is now underway at Sedgefield. Funding has also been secured to develop a backbone broadband ICT network and series of "nodes" at strategic locations across the County to improve the County's communications infrastructure.
However, despite this progress, there is still much work to be done. There continues to be an urgent need to address inequality in access to opportunities and tackle the problems of disadvantaged communities within the County. According to the Government's Index of Multiple Deprivation, more than 30% of the County's population live in wards that are among the 10% of the most deprived in the country (this being twice the proportion found in any other shire county). Targeted investment is urgently required to address the needs of these communities.
The Economic Strategy covers the five year period from 2002-2007, although it has been produced with a view to the longer-term. While it builds upon the work done through its predecessor, it will place greater emphasis on measures to ensure that all communities benefit from the opportunities being created and enable them to contribute to the continued economic regeneration of the County. County Durham has areas of outstandingly beautiful countryside and villages, successful companies, excellent schools and some of the most advantaged localities in the whole Region. The purpose of the Economic Strategy is to take the rest of the County towards a first class quality of life.
Following the introduction the strategy includes:
- A Review of the Economic State of the County
- The Regional and Sub-Regional Context
- Vision, Overall Aims and Cross Cutting Themes of the Economic Strategy
The Strategy then focuses upon four key policy areas:
- Business Development
- Learning and Skills
- Physical Development
- Economic Regeneration
The final section sets out the process of implementation.
Should you require a printed copy of the Economic Strategy please contact us.
