In its widely-trailed strategic review published this morning, the corporation pledges to allow local newspapers "room to develop their digital services" by promising not to introduce more localised online offerings.

The move follows the long-running wrangle two years ago in which BBC plans to introduce a network of hyperlocal video sites were defeated after a major lobbying operation by the newspaper industry.

Today's announcement is part of a planned wholesale retrenchment of BBC services which will see it "doing fewer things better."

The review recommends a 25pc cutback in funding for the BBC's web operation, including the closure of around half the sections by 2012 and fewer bespoke programme websites.

In addition the BBC sites will aim to include more links to external sites, including local newspaper portals.

The 79-page review states: "Local websites will be refocused, meanwhile, to carry only news, sport, weather, travel and local knowledge content.

"A new 'contract for local' will define a series of BBC commitments and limits, including a commitment to never becoming any more local in England—that is, never to increase the BBC’s number of local services on television, radio and online or to make any existing services more local."

The review says the move will "leave room for local newspapers and others to develop in a digital world by keeping the BBC’s current pattern of local services, and not launching new services in England at any more local a level than today."

The BBC Trust will now consider the recommendations of the review which also include capping spending on sporting rights at 9p in every pound of licence-payers' money and scrapping the digital radio stations 6Music and Asian Network.

The National Union of Journalists has hit out at the plans and accused the BBC and its director general Mark Thompson of pandering to commercial interests.

General secretary Jeremy Dear said: "BBC management's strategy of desperate, hopeful, self-sacrifice is fundamentally flawed. Far from convincing an incoming government or commercial rivals that the BBC should now be left well alone, their self-harming approach will only encourage commercial media operations to demand more cuts."

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