COUNCIL bosses will put together a neighbourhood plan in an effort to control the level of development in a historic part of Witham.

The town council hopes the new document will give it and residents greater say on new housing and buildings being put up in the coming years.

A neighbourhood plan would outline where new development is permitted in the town, as well as what type.

It could take up to two years to get the blueprint in place and it will need to secure support from residents through a public vote before it can be finalised.

The document would then be consulted when any planning applications are put forward for Witham, however Braintree Council would still have the final say.

Council bosses say they are setting up a neighbourhood plan due to concerns the conservation area in the town is being harmed by new developments.

Town council leader Michael Lager said: “We already have a town plan to promote social and economic improvements and a neighbourhood plan will support this with details on land use.

“We do not believe that the current district local plan, which dates back to 2005, provides enough detail to protect the Newland Street area from unsympathetic proposals, and it also faces long delays due to the planning inspector’s rejection of the garden community proposals.

“The existing plan has seen off viable activities in the leisure field that should be accommodated in Witham. We need to put this right.”

Braintree Council has yet to update its local plan, which critics say has led to speculative developments being approved across the district.

Its proposals to build three new garden communities in north Essex, with the help of Colchester and Tendring councils, suffered a setback last month when an inspector said two of the three new towns were undeliverable.