A NEW radical approach to encourage residents of Newcastle to shape the future of their own communities will be launched today.

The approach is described in a new White Paper on community planning, with the aim of ensuring residents living in each of the seven areas of the city are involved in identifying priorities.

People living in Riverside West, South Central, North Central, Gosforth, Out West, Outer East and Inner East will help provide the essential building blocks that will ensure the city's strategic plans address local issues and priorities.

Newcastle city councillor Barry Phillipson, who is the brainchild behind the project has invited all residents to become involved.

He said: "As an authority, we acknowledge we haven't always involved people as well as we might have.

"We want to change that and work in partnership with our communities.