DROITWICH Spa has been awarded a Government grant of £20,000 so residents can have more of a say about developments on their doorstep.

The town council signed up to the national neighbourhood planning scheme and applied for the cash boost.

It means that residents can now produce a neighbourhood development plan to influence future building projects in their community.

Neighbourhood development plans will become part of the local statutory development plan and will form the basis for determining planning applications in an area. A neighbourhood development order enables the community to grant planning permission for the development it wishes to see.

It is part of the Localism Act which received Royal Assent in November 2011 and which will see residents start neighbourhood planning from April.

Droitwich Spa Town Council has wasted no time in starting the process by meeting with Wychavon District Council representatives to discuss how to begin forming a development plan for the area.

Councillor Pam Davey, from Droitwich Spa Town Council, said: “It is great to get the funding we applied for. The meeting went really well and we discussed how to move forward and produce a neighbourhood plan.

“I know that there are many people who are keen to be involved and have a say on developments in their neighbourhood. This gives the opportunity to do just that.”