Plans which set out how the village of Worth will be developed in the future has now been agreed.

Dover District Council has agreed the Worth Neighbourhood Development Plan, making the parish council the first one in the county to adopt an NDP.

A referendum took place in the village last year which saw 245 out of 268 people voting in favour of the plan.

Speaking after the referendum, MP Laura Sandys said: “I am pleased that across Thanet and Sandwich, communities are working hard to bring together neighbourhood plans. ”

Cllr Paul Watkins, leader of Dover District Council said: “We would like to say well done to Worth for being pioneers in this matter. “We are very pleased to see local communities getting involved in planning for their own areas in this way, and would congratulate Worth Parish Council on the professional plan they have produced, and for being the first in the county to reach this important stage.”

A considerable amount of work was undertaken by the parish council and the community, who started working on the proposals in 2011.

The district council agreed the development plan on Wednesday, January 28.

This follows news that Dover District Council has become the first local authority in east Kent to have a full Local Plan in place, following adoption of its Land Allocations Local Plan.

St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Ash, Sandwich and Shepherdswell have also decided to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan and are still in the process of doing so.

Sandwich initially refused its neighbourhood area in July last year but a revised plan was then designated.

For more information, visit the Neighbourhood Planning pages on the DDC website at www.dover.gov.uk/Planning/Planning-Policy/Local-Development-Framework/Neighbourhood-Planning/Neighbourhood-Planning.aspx