A network of communities taking local climate action through co design, knowledge sharing and developing community energy projects.

Supporting people to make positive change in rural communities

The Rural Durham Community Research Network helps people and organisations in rural communities gather valuable knowledge and use it to help shape decisions, influence change and build lasting research skills.

This five year project is part of UK Research and Innovation's national Community Research Network programme. 

The project will investigate the technical and financial feasibility of developing a community-owned district heating system for Haydon Bridge in Northumberland.

The project has been instigated by the Haydon Bridge community.

The Rural Design Centre has been working in collaboration with Durham Community Action (DCA) to understand the energy needs and challenges faced by community spaces within County Durham.

The project will install solar PV panels onto the roofs of community buildings across rural Northumberland (village halls, churches, community-owned sports facilities, etc) and integrate battery storage.

Northumberland County Council and the Rural Design Centre are working to identify and address the non-technical barriers to reducing emissions across agriculture and forestry in Northumberland.

Co-developing a framework to guide implementation and prioritisation of future investment of UK Shared Prosperity funds in County Durham communities.