Private consultants are to be hired to produce strategies for sites where developers want to build homes.

Winchester City Council's cabinet released £55,000 for the scheme on Wednesday. The initiative will be welcome news to residents in key areas who are fed-up with increasing infill development.

Council members praised the new idea, which will see city planners taking a more proactive role in the development of sensitive sites, but concerns were raised that funding would be inadequate.

The scheme has been introduced in a bid to improve the present situation, where most sites are only discussed when a developer submits an application. "We have got to get control of the planning process," urged Independent member, Georgina Busher, who chairs the planning committee.

The council wants to speak to construction firms beforehand, and involve residents and parish councils. All the groups will produce a joint strategy for the land in question.

Director of development services, Robin Cooper, said residents would enjoy a greater say as a result. "We are trying to listen to local communities. There will have to be development, but we are trying to ensure that it's acceptable."

The council is keen to avoid a repeat of the situation in Chilbolton Avenue, where several developers are trying to build. But their plans do not take account of the other applications being submitted.

Steve Opacic, director of forward planning, argued that their new approach would solve the problem. "It's there to defend against piecemeal applications."

He presented a report to members stating that £55,000 was needed to launch the scheme. The cash would be used to hire private consultants, as the council has insufficient staff for the project.

Members agreed to hire two companies, Matrix Partnership and Atkins, to carry out the work. Their staff will help to produce "design statements". The documents, compiled by residents, set out what kinds of development would be welcome in their village or neighbourhood.

Several design statements already exist in the district, with more "on the slipway", members heard. The private consultants will also help to produce "development briefs" and "local area design statements".

These documents will concentrate on specific sites where construction firms have expressed an interest. Residents, developers, and parish and city council representatives will be involved in their production.

Members heard that development briefs were proposed for Quarry Road, Winchester, Rareridge Lane, Bishop's Waltham and Grange Road, Alresford.

Local area design statements, covering larger plots of land, were proposed for Sleepers Hill in Winchester, the Springvale area in Kings Worthy, near Winchester, Compton Down, near Winchester, and Chilbolton Avenue.

Labour group leader, Patrick Davies, argued that it was too late to draw up a strategy for Chilbolton Avenue, as so many schemes had already been approved.

Deputy Conservative group leader, George Hollingbery, then questioned if £55,000 would be enough for the scheme.

"There's a limited number of design statements that can be drawn up, as there is a limited amount of money."

Cabinet members agreed to release the cash and the consultants are expected to start work next month.