Consett 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.

We engaged with 1,105 people across a range of demographics:

• 238 survey responses representing residents of Stanley, wider County Durham, visitors and businesses
• 137 people during five drop-in or on-street engagement
• 718 young people engaged. 296 children took part through the school council engagement at St Partick’s Primary School and Leadgate Primary School. A further 422 engaged through the Durham Youth Council survey
• 12 key stakeholders engaged during 9 interviews or 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

• Strong pride in Consett’s industrial and steelworks heritage, which continues to shape identity and community cohesion.
• Excellent access to countryside, green spaces and walking and cycling routes, including the Coast to Coast and Derwent Walk.
• Public art and historic buildings valued as markers of identity and character

Challenges

• Town centre perceived as run-down, with high levels of empty and derelict buildings.
• Limited diversity and quality of the retail offer, contributing to low footfall and destination appeal.
• Perception that regeneration has been slow and has not delivered visible change.

Opportunities

• Repurposing empty and underused buildings for new uses, including cultural, community, and independent business spaces.
• Better promotion of Consett’s heritage and natural assets to support tourism and pride of place.
• Supporting independent businesses, markets, and food and drink offers to diversify the town centre.

Transport

Strengths

• The Coast to Coast (“C2C”) and Derwent Walk routes are seen as two of the biggest assets in Consett for walking and cycling, particularly for their countryside access.
• Consett is considered ideally located between Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland for commuters and those wanting to visit the cities by bus.

Challenges

• Consett’s buses – particularly those operated by Go Northeast – are hugely unreliable and are frequently cancelled or breaking down without repair.
• Town centre parking is difficult with a lack of free car parking space, making on-street parking commonplace and problematic.
• Pavements are uneven and walkways are often not flat, meaning that residents with accessibility needs often struggle to get around the town centre.

Opportunities

• The town could take better advantage of its local walking routes by improving signposting to attract more visitors.
• Nearby major train station, Durham, could be better served by Consett’s public transport, to support travelling far afield.
• Consett’s regional location could be leveraged with frequent and faster bus services operating out of its bus station.

Safety and security

Strengths

• Consett is perceived as mostly safe around the town centre during the daytime.
• People feel safe in their homes, surrounded by friendly communities.
• Having strong connections within the town is the driver behind feeling secure for those who have grown up in Consett.

Challenges

• Feelings of safety and security in Consett decrease on an evening, due to poor town centre lighting and anti-social behaviour.
• Drug use, especially in the town centre at night, is seen as a concern and sits alongside reports of derelict buildings in the town centre being used to grow cannabis.

Opportunities

• Diversionary activities for young people, such as youth clubs, would combat drug use and anti-social behaviour in the town.
• Improved visibility of police officers, police stations, security guards, and CCTV around Consett would allow residents to feel more secure.

Housing

Strengths

• Consett remains one of the more affordable places to live in the North East, offering good value compared to Durham, Newcastle, and surrounding areas.
• A broad range of housing types, sizes, and price points provides choice for residents at different life stages and budgets.
• New housing development, including the reuse of the former steelworks site, is viewed positively by some as a sign of investment and regeneration.
• Older Victorian and traditional terraced housing is valued for its character, solidity, and contribution to the town's identity.
• Mixed-value housing developments, where social and private housing are integrated, are seen as contributing to stronger communities.

Challenges

• Infrastructure, particularly GP surgeries, dentists, schools, and roads, is widely seen as failing to keep pace with housing growth.
• Affordability is eroding, particularly for young people, first-time buyers, and renters, as new build prices rise and private rents increase sharply.
• A significant shortage of social and council housing, with long waiting times and inadequate provision for older residents and families.

Opportunities

• Investment in social and affordable housing, including bungalows for older residents and starter homes for young people.
• More sustainable, energy-efficient, and design-conscious new builds that better reflect Consett's character.
• Better integration of new housing estates with walking, cycling, and public transport networks.
• Regeneration of older housing stock in the town centre and gateway areas such as Leadgate.
• Support for town centre living options, particularly for older residents wishing to remain close to amenities.

Education, skills and work opportunities

Strengths

• Primary schools are broadly well-regarded, with dedicated staff and good accessibility across the town and surrounding villages.
• Derwentside College is valued for its vocational offer, apprenticeships, and central location, and is seen as an important community asset.
• Consett's location offers reasonable commuting access to Durham and Newcastle for those with access to a car.
• A network of community organisations, the Job Centre, and training providers supports employability in the town.
• The industrial estates provide some local employment and there is a good reputation for producing skilled manual workers and engineers.
• The forthcoming Villa Real School represents a significant and widely welcomed addition to local educational provision.

Challenges

• Consett Academy is widely perceived as overcrowded, underfunded, and struggling with bullying and SEND provision, with many families choosing schools outside the area.
• There is only one secondary school in Consett, leaving families with little meaningful choice and creating significant capacity pressures as the population grows.
• Local employment is dominated by low -paid, low-skilled work in retail, hospitality, and manufacturing, with very few opportunities for career progression or professional development.

Opportunities

• Strengthen links between Derwentside College, local employers, and schools to create clearer progression routes from education into skilled employment.
• Expand apprenticeship opportunities and work experience programmes, with better coordination between businesses and educational institutions.
• Develop broader skills provision for adults, including evening classes, community learning, and creative and digital skills pathways.

Community spirit

Strengths

• Consett's people are widely and enthusiastically described as friendly, warm, and willing to help.
• A strong tradition of rallying together in times of crisis, demonstrated through campaigns, mutual aid, and community fundraising.
• Local pride rooted in Consett's industrial heritage, particularly the steelworks, gives the community a strong and distinctive sense of identity.
• A network of community groups, voluntary organisations, and support services, including the Hub, the Salvation Army, and local food banks, provides meaningful support to residents.

Challenges

• Community spirit is felt by many to be declining, particularly in newer estates and among residents with less connection to the town's history and identity.
• There is very little for young people to do outside of school hours, with youth clubs, play areas, and informal social spaces largely absent.
• Anti-social behaviour, linked directly by residents to the absence of youth provision, is a recurring concern in parts of the town.
• The loss of social clubs, pubs, youth clubs, and community venues has removed many of the spaces where community spirit was historically built and maintained

Opportunities

• Invest in community spaces and "third places", venues outside of home and work where people of all ages can gather, connect, and belong.
• Expand activities, clubs, and structured programmes for young people, including arts, sports, drama, and outdoor education.
• Build on the Hub as a model of inclusive, intergenerational, community-led activity and replicate its approach elsewhere in the town.
• Develop more regular, well-publicised community events to strengthen social bonds and attract visitors.

Health and wellbeing

Strengths

• High number of gyms, including private gyms and council run leisure facilities.
• There are a wide range of sports activities locally including gyms, martial arts studios, boxing clubs, yoga, and Pilates.
• Excellent access to outdoor spaces for walking and cycling, highlighted as positive for both physical and mental wellbeing.
• Active community groups
• Cultural assets such as the Empire Theatre

Challenges

• Over reliance on paid gyms – which are inaccessible to some due to cost.
• Challenges accessing the swimming pool facilities at the leisure centre.
• Lack of activities for key audiences including teenagers, older adults, disabled residents, families needing childcare.
• Poor access to healthcare with challenges accessing doctors and dentists, and limited access to mental health services.
• Loss of the hospital at Shotley Bridge was raised as a frequent concern.

Opportunities

• Building on natural assets to enhance access by improving transport links and facilities such as dog bins, toilets, and benches.
• Improving schedule of exercise class to incorporate more evenings
• Increase in activities aimed at teenagers (13-17 age group) as well as older adults.
• Affordable prices and discount schemes, including free trials.
• Joined up approach to mental health and wellbeing services.
• Expanding offering of leisure activities.
• More sporting or wellness events in the town, building on strength of Consett Cycle festival.

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.