• We need more affordable houses for families. When the army camps were here the population was double what it is now. Shops need more people living here to survive.
• Alan, Barney retailer
• Can the Vision improve Star Yard. It is the main thoroughfare into town and it is dirty and unpleasant.
• Jessica, Copley
• Text VISION and your message to 07781474422, email us, or fill out this form.

About Barnard Castle

What is the vision?
The Vision is a 20-year plan for the regeneration and development of Barnard Castle market town. The Vision provides a means of accessing long term funding to transform the town into a leading rural service centre, a heritage destination of regional significance, a hotbed of entrepreneurialism and a preferred location for high value-added manufacturing and knowledge-based business investment. The Vision will benefit residents, entrepreneurs, workers, investors and visitors to Barnard Castle.

Where did the idea for the Vision come from?
The Regional Economic Strategy has identified Barnard Castle as one of four market towns (alongside Alnwick, Berwick and Hexham) that are priorities for strategic investment.

The Visioning process started with extensive community consultation led by independent consultants Ekos Consulting. This consultation is summarised in the report The Barnard Castle Vision published in March 2007.

The Vision was commissioned by Teesdale District Council, Durham County Council, County Durham economic Partnership, One North East, Teesdale Marketing and Teesdale Local Strategic Partnership.

The Vision has also been informed by the findings of the Retail Distinctiveness Study.

How is the Vision going to be delivered?
The Vision is being managed by a Steering Group of individuals from the main funding bodies: Durham County Council, One North East, Teesdale District Council, Teesdale Marketing and the Enterprise Agency for Teesdale and Wear Valley. A leadership forum is being established to bring the private sector view. There are a range of consultative processes/for to ensure community participation.

Deborah Jenkins is the Independent Chair of the Steering Group.
Anne Allen is the Assistant to the Vision
Gillian Branch is Administrator to the Vision

Who decides what gets done?
The Steering Group, funders and investors in Teesdale will implement projects that will realise the Vision.

In what ways can I participate?
The Steering Group is encouraging ongoing dialogue and debate through its website and Radio Teesdale.

What's the budget?
We anticipate several million pounds worth of public funding to support the implementation of the Vision. The Steering Group is actively seeking external funders and investors.

What kind of projects are you developing?
The Vision will realise capital projects and programme activity under the following themes:

• Science & Innovation
• Health Campus
• Agricultural Diversity
• Slow Food
• Community
• Artisan
• Crafts & Applied Arts
• Active
• Green

What's happening now?

1. We are preparing tender documentation for environmental, economic and technical assessments of potential development sites within Barnard Castle that were identified in the Vision report.
2. We are assessing the feasibility of making Barnard Castle a wireless town with high speed broadband connectivity delivered through fibre optic cable.
3. We are identifying potential funding streams for specific projects and preparing bids.