The Localism Act of 2011 allows for local neighbourhood planning which aims to give people more power to shape their local area.

Neighbourhood planning is a way for communities to have a say in the future of the places where they live and work. It gives the community power to produce a plan with legal weight that directs development in our local area and allows us to choose where we want new homes, shops and offices to be.

Groups can also get tailored advice, support and grants to develop their plans and more than 2,400 communities across England have already started neighbourhood planning.

Nearby Woodford’s Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed at http://woodfordnf.co.uk/