A LONG-AWAITED neighbourhood plan for the future of Summertown will not be 'wasted effort' as council bosses pledge to open discussions on how it could fit in with the city's local plan.

The Summertown and St Margaret's Neighbourhood Plan – which will provide planning guidelines for development in the area for the next 15 years – could be decided by a referendum in May.

But the emergence of Oxford City Council's Local Plan, to be implemented in 2019 had led to fears Summertown residents' work was 'wasted effort'.

Council bosses have now said dialogue will be opened with the neighbourhood forum group to work at how the two blueprints could fit together.

The council's head of planning, Alex Hollingsworth, said: "The residents have done a great deal of good work in putting together the neighbourhood plan and it has been very helpful.

"We will be working very closely together with those in the neighbourhood forum and will open discussions with them to fit how the plans fit together and if there's any potential conflicts."

The plan warns that children growing up in Summertown cannot afford to settle in the area and suggests one, two and three bedroom units be given priority in planning.

Another key policy would ensure that developments of 10 or more houses would only be supported if 25 per cent were affordable and 25 per cent were for key workers.

Summertown councillor Andrew Gant, who is also a member of the forum, said the neighbourhood plan was important for the area's future, particularly with development of Diamond Place on the horizon.

He said: "The Diamond Place development will be a good test of how effective our plan is.

"It's about getting the right balance for the area going forward, and the plan shows the priorities."

Mr Gant added that the right mix of housing, transport improvements and a potential new medical facility were all vital to Summertown in the future.

The forum's chairman Sam Clarke said concerns had been raised the group's work over a number was 'wasted effort' but refuted the suggestion firmly.

He said: "We know very well that the new Local Plan is coming along and may come up with policies which run counter to our own.

"We also know that some of our proposed policies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and may in any event be rejected by the Council or the Planning Inspector.

"All of this is par for the course for a Neighbourhood Plan. We approach it and willingly put in our voluntary labour into it in order that we can create some new and desirable policies for the area backed by local people."

He added: "So rather than panic about the longevity of our Plan, we will be working closely with the City Council to anticipate the direction of travel of the new Local Plan and make sure our neighbourhood Plan is a thoroughly durable one."