An area of Shrewsbury has become one of the first in the country to trial a new community planning scheme.

Enthusiasts in the Underdale, Monkmoor and Abbey Foregate wards are developing a Neighbourhood Planning Vanguard and could be eligible for a £20,000 grant from the Government for the initiative. The pilot scheme involves members of the community drawing up an action plan.

The plans detail improvements they would like to see made.

This will then be used as guidelines for planners to take on board and possibly contribute to when considering a new development in the area.

The scheme comes ahead of the Government’s Localism Bill which will see communities given more of a say in local planning matters.

Shrewsbury town councillor Miles Kenny said the planning vanguard would give residents in Underdale, Monkmoor and Abbey Foregate a much greater say in town planning.

He said: “At the moment when a new planning application is submitted there is not much we can do about it, we can only tweak it here and there. This scheme makes it the other way around – we make the first move.

“If developers don’t pay any attention to the guidelines set down by local people, then it is more likely that the application will not be approved.

“This area already has a community plan in place which is why it was chosen.”

The Underdale, Monkmoor and Abbey Community Committee has been set up to create a neighbourhood plan.

It is urging members of the community to take part in a series of consultation events next year to decide how the plan should develop and what its priorities should be.

UMACC is a resident-led group which consults with the community and service providers on issues that affect the quality of life across the UMA area.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of UMACC should contact Tony Southall or Hannah Fraser by calling 07535 833919 or e-mailing secretary@umacc.net