Seaton Lane is part of the local road network and is the responsibility of Durham County Council. The Department for Transport funds local road improvements by providing an annual integrated transport block grant to local authorities and by contributing about £7 billion towards the £12 billion Local Growth Fund, which Local Enterprise Partnerships can use to fund highway improvement schemes. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working with Sunderland City Council to develop its bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund. If successful, this would support the delivery of around 3,000 additional homes in South Sunderland and Durham, and will include funding for Durham County Council to improve the junction of the B1404 Seaton Lane and the B1285 Stockton Road.

Highways England is aware of queuing on A19 southbound off slip for Seaham, but do not consider that it raises safety or wider operational concerns at present.

They have, however, been liaising with Durham County Council, developers and other key stakeholders to help improve traffic management at Seaton Lane, Seaham. As part of the planning process for proposed developments in the area, improvements to the local road network will need to be implemented.

Since my oral answer of 26^th April 2018 (Official Report, col 1014) I have consulted with representatives of the Diocese and of Seaham Parish and I understand that the land being developed is not owned either by the Parish, the Diocese or the Church Commissioners. Any objections must therefore be made formally and in the usual manner to the Local Authority planning office.

To date the Diocese has not been asked to submit a view on the development. It would be for the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s the Virgin to ask them to do so.