VILLAGERS in one part of the Selby district have made their voices heard about any future developments in the area.

Residents in Appleton Roebuck and Acaster Selby have agreed a plan for their own community which sets out the type of development that would be supported.

This has now been adopted by the district council to use when it considers planning applications.

Appleton Roebuck and Acaster Selby villagers held a referendum last month on a neighbourhood plan that will help determine the type and location of any new development in the area.

The plan has been created by the community themselves, approved by an independent inspector and supported by the district council. The council’s executive has now adopted this new plan. This means it will become part of a range of policies and guidance that are considered when the council makes decisions on planning issues, and the needs and aspirations of residents in the plan area are now contained in planning policy.

Executive member with responsibility for place shaping, Cllr John Mackman, said: “This is about giving local communities more of a say in planning decisions that affect their area. Having a neighbourhood plan in place means that the district council will consider these local needs when making decisions about planning applications. This will help to ensure that any future developments consider both the wider strategic needs of the district with the local needs of people living in village communities.”

Local councillor for the area covered by the plan and executive member for housing, Cllr Richard Musgrave, said: “I’d like to thank the parish council in particular for their work over a number of years to make this happen. It’s been a challenging process, but we now have in place something that will ensure that local people’s views are heard in any future planning applications for the area.”

A referendum on the plan was held in the villages at the end of November, with 87 per cent of people voting in favour on a turnout of 41 per cent. The decision of the executive to adopt the plan is subject to a statutory ‘call in’ period before it can become part of the council’s policy.