Corporate Housing in County Durham

Learn about the top employers in County Durham and their contributions to the local economy. This section highlights key businesses and organisations that play a significant role in the community and shape the city's vibrant economic landscape.

Durham County Council
The unitary local authority for County Durham responsible for services such as education, social care, highways, planning and waste management. As the county’s principal public-sector employer it directly employs large numbers of administrative, professional and frontline staff across the area.

Durham University (University of Durham)
A prestigious collegiate university based in the city of Durham, offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and carrying out research across a wide range of disciplines. The university and its colleges are a major regional employer, supporting academic, professional services and campus operations staff.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT)
An NHS trust providing acute hospital and community health services across County Durham and Darlington, operating hospitals such as University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital. It is one of the region’s largest employers of clinical, allied health and support personnel.

Hitachi Rail (Hitachi Rail Europe) — Newton Aycliffe
A major rail engineering and manufacturing employer with a large train-building and assembly facility in Newton Aycliffe. The site produces rolling stock and components for UK and international rail projects and employs a substantial local workforce in manufacturing, engineering and supply-chain roles.

Amazon (UK) — local fulfilment/fulfillment and logistics centres
The e-commerce and logistics company operates large fulfilment and distribution centres in County Durham, providing significant local employment in warehouse, operations, transport and logistics roles supporting Amazon’s UK delivery network.

Explore the diverse transport options available in County Durham, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Bus network - Extensive local and regional bus services operated mainly by Go North East, Arriva North East and Stagecoach North East, linking towns and villages across County Durham and providing frequent services into Newcastle, Sunderland, Teesside and local urban centres.
- Rail network - Served by mainline and regional rail: East Coast Main Line stations (Durham, Darlington, Chester-le-Street, Newton Aycliffe) and Durham Coast and regional routes providing connections to Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, York and London; services are operated by providers such as LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express.
- Park & Ride and city bus hubs - Several park & ride sites and dedicated bus stops serving Durham city centre and university areas, improving access for commuters and reducing city centre congestion.
- Intercity coach services - National Express and other coach operators provide longer-distance links (e.g., to London and other major UK cities) from key towns such as Durham and Darlington.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Local voluntary and council-supported minibuses, community transport schemes and Dial-a-Ride services that cater for rural areas, older residents and people with mobility needs.
- Taxis and private hire - Licensed taxis, app-based private hire and local minibus hire options operate throughout the county for flexible point-to-point travel and group trips.
- Air links - Teesside International (formerly Durham Tees Valley) is the nearest local airport for some scheduled and charter services; Newcastle International Airport and Teesport are also accessible within reasonable drive times, offering domestic and international routes.

Major Highways
- A1(M) - Primary north–south motorway-standard route skirting the county; main arterial link between London, North East England and Scotland with junctions serving County Durham towns.
- A19 - Major dual-carriageway running north–south to the east of the county, providing a fast route to Teesside, Tyne & Wear and the Humber region.
- A66 - East–west trunk route across the north linking the county to the A1(M), the Pennines and Cumbria (important for trans-Pennine freight and leisure traffic).
- A167 - Important regional route through Durham city and linking to Darlington and Newcastle; carries significant local and commuter traffic.
- A690 - Key link between Durham city and Sunderland/Newcastle corridor, important for commuter journeys and local access.
- A68 - North–south route providing connections from the Darlington/Bishop Auckland area towards Northumberland and the Scottish border.
- A689 - East–west route serving central County Durham, linking towns such as Bishop Auckland, Willington and areas towards Cumbria.
- A693 / A691 - Important local routes connecting towns within County Durham (e.g., Consett, Stanley, Chester-le-Street) and linking into larger trunk roads.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes and routes - A growing network of on-road cycle lanes, signed quiet routes and off-road multi-user paths managed by Durham County Council and Sustrans, including sections of the National Cycle Network and converted former railway paths (e.g., Waskerley Way, Weardale-style trails); active travel funding has supported improvements to junctions, secure parking and quieter routes to encourage commuting and leisure cycling.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Horden station reopening (2020) - A high-profile recent reopening on the Durham Coast line that restored rail access to communities that had been without a station for decades.
- A1(M) and major junction upgrades - Ongoing improvements and phased upgrades to sections of the A1/A1(M) and nearby junctions, reducing congestion and improving north–south journey times.
- A19 and local corridor upgrades - Targeted improvements to the A19 and connecting junctions to improve capacity, safety and freight flow around Teesside and southern County Durham.
- Rail service and station enhancements - Investment in rolling stock, station accessibility improvements and timetable updates improving capacity, frequency and accessibility on regional routes serving County Durham.
- Active travel and cycling funding - Central government and council-funded projects expanding cycle lanes, pedestrian schemes, segregated routes and safer junctions in urban areas (including Durham city) to promote walking and cycling for short commutes.
- Bus priority and Park & Ride enhancements - Local schemes to improve bus reliability through priority lanes, improved interchange points and enhancements to Park & Ride facilities to shift commuters out of city centres.
- Restoring Your Railway and reopening proposals - Feasibility studies, bids and local campaigns (including interest in the Leamside corridor and improved links to Bishop Auckland and other towns) that, if progressed, could deliver new or reinstated passenger services in the medium term.
- Electric vehicle and low-emission infrastructure - Expansion of public EV charging networks and low-emission vehicle initiatives across council car parks and transport hubs to support decarbonisation of road travel.
- Airport and freight connectivity projects - Investment and proposals affecting Teesside International and port/road freight links that aim to improve air connectivity and logistics links for the county region.