THE first Neighbourhood Plan in Herefordshire has been officially adopted, well ahead of Ledbury's Neighbourhood Plan, which is not excepted to be finished until early next year, at the very earliest.

The Weston under Penyard Neighbourhood Development Plan was adopted at a full meeting of Herefordshire Council on May 20.

This follows a referendum in February where Western under Penyard residents were asked whether they wanted the council to use the parish’s plan when deciding on planning applications in the area, and more than 96.4 per cent voted in favour of adopting the plan.

Ledbury's Neighbourhood Plan, which will be a cornerstone for deciding the future development of Ledbury, alongside the Core Strategy and the Town Plan, has been subject to controversy and in-fighting among town councillors; and until the plan is competed, the town could remain a target for speculative development.

In April, when Gladman won it's planning appeal for 321 houses to the south of Ledbury, Cllr Liz Harvey said: "This is a very concerning decision. It makes a nonsense of the effort we have all gone to in shaping the county council’s planning policies for Ledbury and demonstrates the damage the town council has done to the town in dragging its heels for so long on the Neighbourhood Plan."

But the mayor at the time, Annett Crowe, said that the disbanding and reforming of the Ledbury' Neighbourhood Plan group had not led to damaging delays, but actual progress.

Cllr Crowe said: "The previous group had not set a date for the consultation we've just had. The new group was formed five months ago, and we've already had public consultation."

At the recent annual Ledbury town council meeting, Cllr Crowe said "The new working party is steaming ahead and has already consulted with the public and business leaders and are now planning the next consultation

"Hopefully, it will all be completed and ready for submission next year."

Commenting on the county's first Neighbourhood Plan adoption, Cllr Philip Price, cabinet member infrastructure, said “I am delighted that the council has approved the Weston under Penyard Neighbourhood Development Plan. It is the first of its kind in the county and is the culmination of over two years of committed work by the parish council, the neighbourhood plan steering group and the local community. I congratulate them on this significant achievement. This will now form part of Herefordshire’s overall development plan and maintains momentum for other parishes who are playing a key role in supporting the sustainable growth of the county.”

There are around 100 communities producing a neighbourhood plan within Herefordshire, and Ledbury is well behind with its own schedule.

In March 2013, more than three years ago, the Neighbourhood Plan working party resolved to "produce a Plan (at least ready for independent examination) within 12 months, extending to 18 months, if necessary".