Peterlee would be my recommendation. You've around 720 Metres of grass (nice & solid at the moment) and 550 of tarmac.
The airfield is right beside the A19 making Newcastle possible in a 30 minute drive.
Fuel is also available and charges are reasonable.
The alternative would be Eshott, north of Newcastle, but nowhere near as accessible.
The parachute club operate a C182 out of Peterlee...