MOVES to give Littlemore residents a bigger say over the future of the area have taken a step towards reality.

Littlemore Parish Council has agreed to submit its proposal for a neighbourhood plan to Oxford City Council.

If the city council agrees then parish councillors and people in the area will begin the process of drawing up the plan, which will set out how the community will develop.

Parish councillor David Henwood, who has headed the steering group responsible for developing the plan so far, said it would put more power in the hands of local people.

He said: "The local plan would be relevant to Littlemore and would, for example, develop some of the things that are heritage related that we want to preserve and protect.

"If the plan goes ahead it will mean that people in Littlemore have a greater say on the type of building and the type of infrastructure that will be developed to support planning applications.

"That would be the biggest benefit.

"We have got quite a few open spaces and there is room for more development in Littlemore so we should have more say on the shape and size and volume of what is being planned."

Neighbourhood plans were created in 2011 to allow communities to shape developments.

When finalised they become part of the local plan for an area such as Oxford and the policies contained in them are used to determine planning applications.

Mr Henwood added that another major benefit would be that the parish council would be entitled to 25 per cent of community infrastructure levy (CIL) money.

This is money paid by developers for local projects alongside, for example, a large housing scheme.

Currently Littlemore Parish Council gets 12.5 per cent, with the rest going straight to the city council.

Mr Henwood said: "We are looking for people to come and join us and for residents to get involved with how the plan develops.

"If it is approved by the city council we will have more public meetings."

Mr Henwood suggested CIL money could be used to improve Oxford Road which residents have claimed is dangerous due to speeding traffic.

Parish councillor Dorian Hancock said he was broadly supportive of the neighbourhood plan proposals.

He said: "All things that may have a positive benefit for the community are worth looking into.

"Now we have got a full house of 16 parish councillors, there is a good cross-section of young and people and there is a lot of enthusiasm for the community.

"It never hurts to have a plan."