Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership

The Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP) was a registered charity (no. 1112151) which was formed in 2004 but dissolved in October 2025.  Copied below is a statement produced in 2008 about its purpose and achievements.

Copies of past minutes can be found here:–  B&CP Minutes

As reported below, the Partnership was established with the help of the City of Durham Council and assigned the role by the Council and Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC) of principal consultee in developing the Bowburn & Parkhill Masterplan (‘the Masterplan’) for the regeneration of the village.

A copy of the Executive Summary of that Masterplan, produced in 2008, can be viewed below.

Statement produced in 2008 about B&PCP’s purpose and achievements

Information about the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership to describe the purpose and achievements of the Partnership

The Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (‘the Partnership’) is a registered charity, whose objects are to promote the benefit and improve the condition of life of the inhabitants of Bowburn, Old Quarrington, Tursdale and Parkhill (‘the Area of Benefit’) and surrounding area, by associating with residents, statutory and voluntary organisations, to provide facilities and improve the physical and social environment of the area. We aim to represent all sections of the community, without distinction of sexual orientation, race, age, disability or of political, religious or other opinion.

The Partnership was established in 2004 with the help of the City of Durham Council and has been assigned the role by the Council and Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC) as principal consultee in developing the Bowburn & Parkhill Masterplan (‘the Masterplan’) for the regeneration of the village.  The Partnership works with the Council’s Community Development team to realise local aspirations and assist in supporting the aims of the Masterplan and it is expected that the decisions of the Partnership will be confirmed by DVRC and the Council.

The Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership Regeneration Fund (‘the Regeneration Fund’) was set up by the City of Durham Council in May 2005 as The Bowburn Improvement Fund with a value of £1.9M, this being the land value of the site developed at Lawson Road, Bowburn, by the DVRC.  £100 000 of that was subsequently allocated by the Council to a Community Chest, for small grants to voluntary and community organisations, applications for which have been ratified by the Partnership. The Community Chest money, owned by the council, is channelled to the Partnership for payment to groups who have made a successful application.

The Masterplan includes an action plan based on consultation with local residents and grouped under the following headings:

•  Traffic & Transport

•  Environment

•  Recreation & Leisure

•  Social & Community - Young People

•  Social & Community - Children

•  Social & Community - Sports & Pastimes

•  Heritage & Culture

•  Housing

• Jobs & Employment

• Social & Community – Religion

A summary of our main activities include:

• Public open meetings held every month

• At least one meeting of Trustees held every month with decisions referred to Open Meetings for ratification

• Consultation events (separate from Public Open Meetings) held in the area regarding the development of the Masterplan in conjunction with authorities and other organisations

• Prioritised needs in Masterplan through consultation and consequently established specialialised focus groups (Environment, Highways, Recreation, Church, Youth, Parkhill, Heritage, Community Centre, and Village Centenary). They meet regularly and report/liaise to the monthly open meetings

• Enabling residents to voice concerns regarding proposed and actual development projects in village and to ensure these concerns are taken to Local Authorities and developers with answers brought back

• Presentations on Community issues given by outside organisations e.g.: crime, public disorder, LSP, supermarket, commercial housing developments.

• Improvements in Youth Worker provision for Bowburn

• Facilitated the installation of a Road Speed Visor in Bowburn through consultation with the County Council.

• Qualifications and experience gained for PAT testing, Risk assessment, The Prince2 training in project management, and Minibus Driver training.

• Disco organised for children throughout area of benefit

• Home Front Recall, to commemorate the end of World War II; Events were organised in which the whole community could participate and mark the sacrifice made by an earlier generation. 

• Bowburn Centenary Celebration events were organised to mark the sinking of the coal mine and the formation of the village. 

• Plant a Tree Week has enabled B&PCP to purchase mature trees for Bowburn.

This is a broad picture of the many activities that the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership are engaged in for the benefit of the village of Bowburn and its surrounding area.

Bowburn & Parkhill Masterplan 2008 – Executive Summary

(Click on the ikon in the top right corner of the image below.)