WHEN news of the planning inspector’s report on the ambitious County Durham Plan first broke, it is fair to say we were somewhat taken aback, writes James Ramsbotham, North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) chief executive.

We have heard, on many occasions, from the Government of its desire to empower business to drive forward growth and ultimately re-balance the economy away from an over-reliance on the South-East.

So, having worked with Durham County Council to devise its pro-growth blueprint, we were shocked when the inspector returned such negative comments.

This document represents a vision for the future.

Durham County Council is making a clear statement it is open for business, and we fully endorse this sentiment.

By ridiculing these ambitions, the inspector is condemning not only County Durham, but the North-East as a whole to a future of low growth and aspiration.

This seems completely at odds with the Government’s desire to stimulate growth in the North and to create a sustainable, balanced economy.

The current successes of County Durham firms are also held in little regard, with many world leaders in their sectors and making considerable future investments.

I was delighted to work alongside Durham County Council during the development of the CDP, another example of how we as a region are becoming more joined up across the public and private sectors.

We wanted to ensure businesses have the opportunity to understand and shape the Plan.

We feel it contains the ambition required to drive forward growth, empower business and ensure the region delivers more.

NECC believes County Durham is a major centre for manufacturing, advanced research and tourism.

It has a major role to play in the economic success of the wider region.

The council is right to be ambitious in its development plans and should seek to break long term trends of unemployment and job creation.

This can only be achieved if businesses are given the certainty and confidence to invest in an area which is seeking to accommodate them.

This means not only allocating sufficient space for employment land, but also providing the necessary infrastructure to support economic flows and high quality housing to cater for both inward migration and indigenous growth not only in County Durham but across the rest of the region.

So it was good to hear comments from Chancellor George Osborne suggesting he is ready to hear our case and we will continue to seek meetings with his compatriot Eric Pickles, to further push County Durham’s ambitions and back their plan to build a stronger county that can only help growth across the region and ultimately increase our contribution to UK plc.