Bishop Auckland Strategic Place Plan

In phase two, we have been understanding what you have told us

We have gathered your feedback from events, the survey, from schools and community groups and local organisations and employers and cross reference it with data and information we have about the town. We will then develop a draft vision for the town to share with you in the next phase.

What you told us

We engaged with 340 people across a range of demographics:  

• 126 survey responses representing residents of Bishop Auckland, wider County Durham, visitors and businesses  
• 175 people during 7 drop-in or on-street engagement  
• 28 young people engaged via Durham Youth council and a drop-in session Bishop Auckland College   
• 11 key stakeholders or partners were interviewed or took part in 5 mini-focus groups  

The key findings are based on themed areas of heritage and regeneration; transport; safety and security; housing; education, skills and opportunities; community spirit; and health and wellbeing. These summarise what you told us about the town.  

Heritage and regeneration 

Strengths 

• The historic Market Place, Auckland Palace, and The Auckland Project are seen as part of the town’s unique identity and are popular tourist attractions. 
• The regeneration work to date demonstrates the town’s potential as a cultural and tourist hub. 

Challenges 

• Empty and derelict buildings are a key concern in Bishop Auckland, with people feeling that delays in regeneration activities lead to further deterioration. 
• Vandalism and graffiti are seen as an issue, with vacant shops often targeted. 

Opportunities 

• Historic buildings can be revived for creative, community, or cultural reuse whilst maintaining their original character. 
• Existing events in the town demonstrate strong community–corporate collaboration models that could be built upon. 

Transport 

Strengths 

• The town is walkable, with attractive green routes and heritage paths. 
• The town is well connected by road and by public transport routes to surrounding towns. 

Challenges 

• Pedestrians feel unsafe in some areas and there is limited infrastructure for cyclists. 
• Perception that parking is limited and charges are prohibitively high for some residents. 
• Public transport routes to surrounding villages, particularly buses, are perceived as unreliable and too infrequent. 

Opportunities  

• The new bus station provides an opportunity to improve bus timetabling and attract additional services 

Safety and security  

Strengths 

• Overall, residents feel safe in Bishop Auckland and believe there is a strong sense of community.  

Challenges 

• The derelict appearance of the town centre contributes to feelings of insecurity, neglect, and an intimidating atmosphere for some. 
• Lighting and visibility are poor in several key locations, making streets and car parks feel unsafe. 
• Police presence and enforcement is limited, reducing confidence in local security. 

Opportunities 

• Encouraging night-time economy initiatives (e.g. food markets and performances) and youth groups can bring positive activities to the town centre and reduce anti-social behaviour. 

Housing 

Strengths 

• There is a good mix of affordable housing types. 
• New housing developments are seen as modern and welldesigned in some locations. 
• Residential areas have good access to the outdoors and green spaces. 

Challenges 

• Poor quality and run-down housing is found in some areas, in particular private rentals and absentee landlords. 
• Residents believe that there is an increasing number of HMO properties. 
• There are concerns about new-build housing developments putting additional strain on facilities and services. 

Opportunities 

• Vacant high street buildings or above-shop spaces could be repurposed into housing. 
• Maintenance standards should be strengthened for private landlords to improve the quality of housing 

Education, skills and work opportunities  

Strengths 

• There are a good range of primary and secondary schools and a strong local college offering. 
• Training and skills-development opportunities are improving in the town. 

Challenges 

• There are limited post-16 and higher education pathways. 
• Transport and childcare are barriers to employment. 
• There is a lack of higher-paid or higher-skilled jobs. 

Opportunities 

• There is an opportunity to strengthen links between education  
• providers, local employers, and The Auckland Project. 
• Entrepreneurship and small businesses could be better supported through expanding the available business support and advice. 

Community spirit 

Strengths 

• Bishop Auckland is a friendly and welcoming town, with residents who look out for one another. 
• Local events such as the Food Festival, Christmas Town, Kynren, and summer fairs are unifying and uplifting. 
• There is a strong culture of volunteering and many active community groups, including The Auckland Project, Angel Trust, Gaunless Gateway, and others. 

Challenges 

• Many respondents felt community spirit has declined or is missing altogether in parts of the town. 
• Anti-social behaviour, social division, and racism were frequently cited as eroding community cohesion. 
• Negativity and criticism on social media seen as damaging to morale and civic pride and hinders progress. 

Opportunities 

• Residents would like more community spaces and opportunities for people to socialise and volunteer, especially greater opportunities for young people. 
• Better promotion and co-ordination of events and community groups could increase participation and accessibility 

Health and wellbeing  

Strengths 

• The number of parks and walks, and overall access to the countryside supports active lifestyles and mental wellbeing. 
• The new leisure centre is viewed as a major positive development that will support community health and wellbeing. 
• There is a good range of gyms, sports clubs, and walking groups across the town. 

Challenges 

• Hospital services have been reduced, resulting in the loss of A&E and maternity care. 
• Cost and affordability are barriers to leisure and wellbeing activities. 
• There is limited mental health support and access to preventive care. 
• There are gaps in evening and inclusive activities for working adults and older residents, and poor communication of existing opportunities. 

Opportunities 

• The new leisure facility, with its proximity to public transport and a library, will be a great asset for the town and provides an opportunity to host inclusive and low-cost activities. 
• Awareness and offline promotion of existing groups and services can be improved 

Our approach for the next stages  

We have shared these findings with senior officers across the council to develop a greater understanding of what local residents, organisations and businesses are telling us about the town. We will be setting up a group which will be made up of council officers and local partners to help identify what can be done to improve the area over the next 10 years.  

As part of this, a vision for the town will be developed and shared with you for your comments. In addition, we are developing an investment plan.