A planning consultation paper, created by a pioneering residents group, will become only the second of its kind in the country.

The Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group has created a draft neighbourhood plan which will inform and gather opinions from residents.

The draft plan will include neighbourhood planning policy, site proposals and wider community projects.

Helena Barrowclough, chairwoman of The Hackbridge and Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group said a small group of local residents and businesses have been pulling together data and information and consulting with the local community about Hackbridge.

She said: "We are now at the point where we wish to undertake further consultation on a draft plan, which builds on the Draft Hackbridge Masterplan 2009 and desire to become a sustainable suburb."

In the 2011 Localism Act neighbourhoods and residents groups were given the opportunity to plan for their own areas.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, chairwoman of the housing, economy and business committee said: "Giving local people the opportunity to shape their areas and the powers to determine what development is right for their community is an important step for us as a council as we know that local people are passionate about these things."

The upper Eden Neighbourhood Plan in Cumbria was the first neighbourhood plan to be approved in England.