Windsor 2030, the town’s central Neighbourhood Plan for business, has reached a landmark stage with the appointment of an independent planning consultant to prepare a draft policy document for formal public consultation.

SBW Planning, of London, has already visited the town and the Neighbourhood Plan is on track for public consultation this summer.

Windsor 2030 chairman Dermot Whelan said: “At that stage the public and certain statutory bodies will be able to view the draft plan and make their comments.

“The Windsor 2030 Forum will then consider adapting the draft plan before it is formally submitted to the Royal Borough and, hopefully, endorsed.”

As with all Neighbourhood Plans, if it wins the backing of the Royal Borough and passes a public examination by an independent planning inspector, it will then be put to a public referendum. Once adopted it will form a strategic framework to guide planning applications and development control within the boundaries of the plan area.