Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which towns in County Durham did Durham County Council submit bids for to the (a) High Streets Fund and (b) Towns Fund.

Durham County Council submitted an Expression of Interest to the Future High Streets Fund for four towns in County Durham. These towns were Chester Le Street, Bishop Auckland, Seaham and Spennymoor. Bishop Auckland was successful at this stage, and on 26 December 2020 we announced it had successfully secured £19.8 million from the fund.

Bishop Auckland was also invited to submit proposals to secure a Town Deal as part of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund. Bishop Auckland submitted its Town Investment Plan in January 2021 and that plan is currently being assessed by officials.