Otley Town Council has agreed to take the lead in drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan to help control development in the town.

The council has allocated £20,000 of its budget for the coming year to helping cover costs of the project.

Once complete, the plan will form a set of local guidelines developers will have to show they have seriously considered before they submit building proposals.

Councillor Michael Evans (Lab, Manor) told the latest policy and resources committee meeting: “We are determined to produce a neighbourhood plan in collaboration with a range of key stakeholders and the community. We will establish a series of events to ensure participation is a cornerstone to the development of the plan.”