PLANNING panel meetings in Southampton are set to be held in the evening.

Currently the meetings – where major or contentious planning applications are decided on by city councillors – take place during the day.

Council chiefs want to split the committee into two new panels – one for the west of the city and one for the east.

And while the panels are currently held at the Civic Centre, the new meetings will take place at venues in the west and east of Southampton.

It is hoped changing the timing of the meetings will mean more residents can turn up to contribute.

The changes are expected to take place later this year.