The future of a key town will be mapped out in a new document, its council says.

West Malling Parish Council (WMPC) has written to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) to ask to create a Neighbourhood Plan which will play an integral role in determining future development in the medieval centre.

Introduced under the 2012 Localism Act, Neighbourhood Plans give locals more say on how growth in their towns, villages and cities is planned.

In a series of public meetings and consultations people can give their views on issues such as infrastructure and the locations of new housing.

Key organisations like Kent County Council (KCC) can respond before an independent examination is held.

Finally, there will be a referendum on whether to adopt the plan.

Richard Selkirk, WMPC vice-chairman, said: “This document isn’t about the parish council – it is something the community itself must do.

“I am really confident we will have a lot of people wanting to get involved.

“This will be a long process and we will have a public meeting which will the first time we can talk to people about it.”

Should the plan be adopted it will get the same legal status as TMBC’s Local Plan which it is currently in the process of forming. West Malling would join Ditton, currently the only parish in the borough with an adopted plan.

Following a call for sites completed in September, 262 plots have been outlined, including several around West Malling.

These are land to the back of London Road and Sportsman’s Farm in Teston Road.

TMBC’s self-assessed housing need is for 13,460 new homes by 2031.

More details, including details of the first in a series of public meetings and consultations will be announced on WMPC’s new website at www.westmallingpc.org.