THE town council in Witney has agreed to put together a plan outlining areas for sustainable development around the town.

A neighbourhood plan, when complete, can be used to help steer development in a particular area by setting out policy and proposals against which local planning applications will be assessed.

Town and district councillor for Witney Laura Price said it is vital the town put its neighbourhood plan together now while the district's Local Plan, which proposes 1,600 new builds in West Oxfordshire before 2031, is out for consultation.

She said the town has fallen behind other areas in the district like Chipping Norton and Eynsham, both of which have already completed their plans.

She added: "I've long argued that we are well behind in not having a neighbourhood plan.

"Now that Local Plan is out to consultation it is urgent that if we are going to do it, we do it now."

Sites outlined within the neighbourhood plan will have to be looked at by West Oxfordshire District Council's planning committees when making decisions on developments.

Neighbourhood Plans were allowed under the 2011 Localism Act, which is aimed at giving communities more power.