COUNCIL chiefs have re-launched multi-billion pound plans to transform County Durham into an economic powerhouse, admitting they underplayed towns and villages outside Durham City.

Durham County Council bosses unveiled their County Durham Plan last May, hailing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the county's long-standing economic decline, with 29,000 new homes built and 16,000 jobs created by 2030.

But their focus on Durham City, which would become a boom town with two new bypasses, 5,000 homes and a cutting-edge business hub at Aykley Heads, drew criticism from outlying areas.

Now, in their latest consultation, planning chiefs are emphasising the 'overall package', with more focus on also strengthening other towns and rural areas.

Potential new sites identified for employment including extensions to Drum Industrial Estate, Chester-le-Street, Aycliffe Industrial Estate, and Netpark, near Sedgefield, and at Shaw Bank, Barnard Castle.

Housing developments could be built at Woodhouses Farm and Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland; Cobbler's Hall and the Young Person's Centre, Newton Aycliffe; and Holly Hill and east of Shield Row, Stanley.

Overall, the Plan includes 29,100 new homes, 702 hectares of new employment land and 31,000sq metres of new retail space.

The latest consultation runs until Wednesday, July 8. Twenty exhibitions are being held across the county until Friday, June 3, and presentations are being given at Area Action Partnership (AAP) meetings.

For more information and to take part in the consultation, visit durham.gov.uk/consultation.

The final draft Plan is due to be published in November.

* See The Northern Echo today for a full report.