Crook North/Tow Law Pride in Place Programme

Crook North/Tow Law has been identified as a location to encourage regeneration and renewal.

Background

Crook North/Tow Law has been selected as part of the government's Gov.uk: Pride in Place Programme that will see up to £20 million of investment and support over the next 10 years (from 2026) to Crook North/Tow Law to make long term improvements. The area that the Pride in Place Programme covers is directly next to the smaller Strategic Place Plan area for Crook town centre.

About the Pride in Place area

Tow Law is a small town and civil parish located on the A68 and positioned on a high ridge near the North Pennines. It lies a few miles south of Consett and around 10 miles west of Durham City.

It is a small former industrial town shaped by 19th‑century ironmaking and coal mining. Though much smaller today than at its industrial peak, it remains a close-knit community surrounded by scenic landscapes, with amenities, historic character, and convenient access to County Durham and the North Pennines.

Howden‑le‑Wear is a small historic village, situated about one mile south of Crook and close to the River Wear. It retains a 19th‑century mining village character, shaped by:

• Its crossroads‑based origins
• Former railway lines that are now green spaces subtly dividing the village
• Historic buildings such as Fir Tree Grange and a Methodist Church
• Parkland and green space, including Jubilee Park, offering wooded walks through the village
• The housing stock includes both older terraces and later cul‑de‑sac developments added from the 1970s onward.

Thornley is a small historic rural village in, situated about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Tow Law. It has a traditional parish church, village hall and landscape shaped by centuries of farming and nearby mining history. Its proximity to Tow Law means it shares much of the same moorland character and elevated terrain common to the North Pennines fringe.

Crook is a historic market town. It lies about 9 miles south‑west of Durham, 5 miles north‑west of Bishop Auckland, and 2 miles from Willington. It is a town shaped by its transition from farmland to a dynamic 19th‑century mining centre, and then into a modern market town with strong heritage character. Its conservation‑area centre, industrial history, longstanding community institutions, scenic surroundings, and role as a gateway to Weardale all contribute to its distinctive identity.

Roddymoor is a former mining village turned quiet residential community with deep historical roots, attractive countryside surroundings, and close ties to nearby Crook and Wear Valley settlements. Its blend of mining heritage, rural charm, and ongoing community spirit make it a distinctive part of County Durham’s landscape.

Fir Tree is a small rural village, located west of Crook and close to the River Wear. It has strong roots in County Durham’s rural and mining heritage. Its attractive countryside location, small-community feel, and proximity to notable landscapes and historic sites make it a charming place to live or visit.

For more information about the Crook North/Tow Law area visit Crook North and Tow Law Pride in Place Programme - Durham County Council

The map shows the boundary chosen for the investment by the government, and the Crook North/Tow Law Board will have a chance to shape the boundary further if needed.

This area starts to the North of Tow Law following the A68 down. This prominent road runs through the centre of the boundary, taking in land to the east and west, encompassing Thornley, Fir Tree, Howden le Wear and Roddymoor. Crook includes major housing estates to the North West and South East of Crook Town Centre.

What you told us during the Crook Strategic Place Plan engagement

We recently asked you about your thoughts on Crook town centre to help us develop a plan for investment over the next 10 years as part of the Crook Strategic Place Plan. We asked you about what you liked and what you do not like about:

• the town centre
• the heritage and regeneration
• transport, walking, cycling and connectivity in the area or with other towns
• your safety and security
• education, work, skills and opportunities
• community cohesion and how people support each other
• the health and wellbeing of people in the area

A summary of the Crook SPP Community Engagement Findings is attached below.

This information will be used, however residents in Crook North/Tow Law will also have other priorities about their specific neighbourhood and we want to hear them. This will help us shape how investment should be made in Crook North/Tow Law.

We want to know from you if what you told about Crook town centre is:

• specific to the town centre
• applies to other parts of Crook North/Tow Law area, or
• if there are other things missing about the strengths, challenges and opportunities that you would like to tell us about.

We will be gathering your views until 30 June 2026.

For more information contact CED@durham.gov.uk

To have this in a different format contact letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk.