Introduction

 

The Local Government Act 1858 allowed local authorities to control the development of streets and buildings. Plans for new buildings, or for extensions to existing property, had to be submitted to the authority for approval before work could commence. Surviving plans include property built before the 1850s if structural alterations were made after the 1858 Act.

 

This guide lists the series of building plans and registers or indexes of plans held by The Story for each planning authority that has existed in County Durham and Darlington since 1858.

 

While we have many thousands of building plans, we do not hold plans for every building constructed in County Durham since 1858. To find out if we have a plan, it is important to have as much information about the property as possible.  An address, date of construction (if known), details of name changes, developer name, etc, can all help track down a plan.

To find a plan relating to a specific building there are a number of potential searches to check:

  • Use the online collections search to search for an address. Use the reference number (Ref No) to request the plan. 
  • Where an original index to plans exists: request the index and check it for an address.  Once you have the original plan number you will be able to request the plan.  Please note that we do not have plans for every plan in the index.
  • Where an original register of plans exists: request the register and check it for an address.  Once you have the original plan number you will be able to request the plan.  Please note that we do not have plans for every plan in the register.
  • Where there is no index or register and plans are uncatalogued: speak to a member of staff or email us at collections@thestorydurham.org
  • For planning applications after 1974 check the relevant Local Authority's planning portal (for example, Durham County Council planning portal).  

 

List of building control and planning consent plans for County Durham

Click on the down arrow below to see a comprehensive list of building control and planning consent plans for the historic county of Durham.  The list includes:

  • Each local authority area responsible for building control and planning consent for the historic county of Durham.  The dates of existence of each authority are given in brackets.
  • The date range for each record series is given, with corresponding catalogue references.
  • The location of plans for areas now outside the current county boundary.

 

Local Authority planning committee minutes will identify when planning consent was granted. Access to these records may be restricted.  

Approvals for Local Authority built housing ('Council Housing') was managed through a separate system.  The Story holds some plans of house types, estate layouts and individual properties, c1930-c1980s. Click on the list below for further information.