Wheathampstead residents are set to have greater influence over local developments in the village.

St Albans District Council cabinet agreed to Wheathampstead Parish Council’s request to designate the parish as the area covered by the village’s Neighbourhood Plan.

It also requested the Parish Council engage with Harpenden Town Council to work together on any issues that potentially impact on Harpenden.

The council had previously agreed to requests for the parishes of St Stephen, Redbourn, Colney Heath and Sandridge to each become Neighbourhood Plan Areas.

Neighbourhood Plans give people the opportunity to have a greater say on the type and extent of development they want for their community.

They provide guidance on what future development is considered acceptable and can indicate locations for homes, transport infrastructure, community facilities, businesses and heritage protection.

Plans, however, must reflect the development needs of the wider area and take into account the city council’s assessment of housing and other development needs.

Cllr Julian Daly, portfolio holder for planning and conservation and leader of the city council, said: “Neighbourhood Plans provide extra guidance to developers on what kind of development is acceptable to local communities at a grass roots level.

“This guidance adds to the District Council’s Local Plan.

"It does not replace it. The District Council, as the local planning authority, retains responsibility for determining planning applications for the entire district even where Neighbourhood Plans are in place.”

In making decisions on individual planning applications, the city council must take Neighbourhood Plans into account, where adopted.