NORTH Dorset District Council is set to approve the adoption of a new neighbourhood plan for Gillingham next week.

Work to create the strategy began in August 2012 when the district council designated the Gillingham neighbourhood area before the document, which was put together by members of the town council and residents, was submitted in July 2017.

A referendum was held on July 12 in which 91 per cent of residents, of a 23 per cent turnout, voted in support of introducing the new plan.

If agreed at Friday’s (July 27) meeting of the district council, the plan will guide development across the town council area until 2031.