BLACKROD is bidding to become the first community in Bolton to develop its own neighbourhood plan.

Residents and town councillors want more of a say in how to shape the future of the village in terms of what is needed and what is being built and, under the 2011 Localism Act, communities have the right to produce a neighbourhood plan to help with this.

Proposals for the creation of such a plan were first mooted at a parish council meeting last October but a report has only just made its way to Bolton Council.

The report addresses the first stage of the process, in which Blackrod Town Council has been asked to provide a neighbourhood area and it has done, designating the entire boundary of the parish.

Following this, those involved will be asked to identify key issues and aims of the plan and develop policies, proposals and, crucially, future site allocations for the future.

The proposed plan will then be put before the people of Blackrod, who will vote on whether or not to accept it in a referendum.

There are fears however, that the plan could be obsolete as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is currently putting together a Spatial Framework — which will aim to manage where homes can be built across the region up to 2035.

Town councillor Stephen Laycock said: “It is frustrating that it has taken this long to get to this stage.

“If the spatial framework comes into force then it makes any neighbourhood plan ineffective as those spaces for housing in our village will already have been allocated.”

Speaking about the need for a plan, he added: “This is about assessing what is needed for the community, what facilities are required and if houses are to be built, where and what type of properties are needed.”

He cited a current applications — an outline plan for 14 houses in the centre of Blackrod — as a prime example of why a neighbourhood plan is needed.

He added: “There is an argument that such a site should be used for facilities for local people — this is the type of thing we would have discussed and been able to have input on with a neighbourhood plan.”

Bolton Council has now approved Blackrod Town Council’s application for a designated neighbourhood area and work can begin on the formation of the overall plan.