AN independent inspector has given Wychavon District Council's Local Plan Review the thumbs up.

The news follows a public inquiry which ended in December last year.

It dealt with issues including developing the district's three towns; housing land supply particularly brownfield sites; affordable housing, and employment land supply including Vale Park and Throckmorton Airfield.

Paul Dobson, the inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, has been generally supportive of the policies proposed in the Local Plan Review, on which residents across the district have given their views.

All planning decisions need to be made in accordance with an up-to-date Local Plan.

Following the inspector's recommendations, the minor changes to the plan are set to include endorsement of the strategic focus of development on the three towns in the district, the reinstatement of housing sites removed from the plan at the pre-inquiry change state and the need for a greenfield site on the edge of Evesham as a result of this recommendation.

Head of planning Gill Collin said: "The Local Plan has a big influence on what happens around you and sets out policies for development and land use in the district. The latest edition will cover up until 2011."

Planning officers are now creating a modifications report based on the inspector's comments to take to the council in December.

Residents will be asked for their views on the proposed modifications report during a six-week statutory public consultation starting early next year.

Mrs Collin added: "We have been delighted with the interest this important document has generated from residents in the past and I hope we see the same interest in this final stage. We hope to be adopting the Local Plan by July 2006."

Copies of the report which is published today cost £55 or £6 on CD ROM. Call 01386 565565 for more details.