Where are we now?
Key findings

The challenges facing County Durham and Darlington can be summarised in two broad priorities:

Tackling deprivation, overcoming inequality and division, and countering polarisation.
Promoting cultural development and change.
This report presents a portrait of County Durham and Darlington, pointing to some of the most
important issues and trends.

Key characteristics of the area include:

An ageing population.
A more diverse economy – but with a heavy reliance on the public sector.
A weak entrepreneurial culture.
Gross Value Added from economic activity is well below the national average.
Still a high incidence of worklessness – but unemployment rates are now low.
Educational achievement in schools is now at, or close to, national levels.
Poor health and low life expectancy - with smoking, obesity and alcohol all major problems.
Demand for long-term care for the elderly and disabled is set to increase.
Owner occupation has grown, while social housing has declined. House prices are relatively low.
Problems of homelessness, exacerbated by insufficient specialised or affordable housing
provision.
Low crime rates – but much concern about anti-social behaviour and drugs usage.
Many households are on very low incomes.
Deprivation is commonplace, notably in the former coalfield areas, but also in other urban
and rural areas.