6,000 jobs and hundreds of millions for Durham’s economy linked to potential council HQ move

Plans to create thousands of private sector jobs and a potential cash injection of £370 million (GVA) for County Durham’s economy could move a step closer if Cabinet members in Durham agree to the next stage in plans to move the authority’s HQ from a prime investment site in the city.

Hailed as the best opportunity in a generation to boost the county’s economic prospects, Durham County Council’s Cabinet members agreed in principle last July to free up the Aykley Heads site for business investors and job creation – something that would involve the council moving to a smaller HQ in a city centre location.

Next week (July 13), Cabinet will be brought up to date on the work undertaken to develop the outline business case for vacating the Aykley Heads site and members will be asked to agree to the start of a full business case which would then then be considered again at a later meeting – ahead of any final decision being made next year.