A LATEST proposals to create a more balanced demographic in a New Forest town have been released to the public.

The New Milton Neighbourhood Plan, which has been produced by the town council, is open for a final public consultation.

It is hoped the policies in the strategy will allow the town to provide housing that encourages younger generations to settle in the area.

If supported by residents, the plan will be used to make decisions on planning applications, ultimately shaping how New Milton develops in the future.

In the pre-submission plan, Cllr Steve Clarke, chair of New Milton Neighbourhood Plan working group, says: "This Neighbourhood Plan gives people who live in the parish of New Milton the opportunity to shape the future of our town.

"It gives our community the ability to decide where we want new homes, shops, offices; to influence the infrastructure to support new homes and more people; and to create policies for local development.

"By taking control, we can influence the way New Milton develops and ensure a strong and sustainable future for our town."

The pre-submission document forms the final consultation phase before the proposals are submitted for examination. A referendum for local people to vote on the adoption of the policies will then take place.

If approved, the plan will play a part in the decision process for the two planning authorities that cover New Milton - New Forest District Council and New Forest National Park Authority.

The Neighbourhood Plan sets out a number of key policies, including earmarking land at Brockhills Lane and land south of Gore Road subject to release from the green belt for housing development alongside land at Caird Avenue.

It also covers developing the town centre and enhancing a number of aspects in the parish.

Cllr Clarke goes on to say: "The New Milton Vision has an overarching ambition to create a more balanced age profile by attracting a younger demographic to live and work in the town. This approach is in response to a significant under-representation in our community of the 20 to 40 year old age group, compared to the national average.

"This proportion is decreasing and is likely to continue to diminish if we do nothing. This age-group is vital to drive our local economy and provide the workforce the town needs."

The public consultation on the plan closes on Tuesday, May 15. For more details about the proposals visit www.newmiltonplan.org.uk