RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say over Tendring Council’s controversial housing blueprint for the future.

The Local Plan will outline development proposals in the district, including where to build as many as 10,000 new homes, until 2032.

The council is staging a sixweek consultation from September 1.

Council leader and planning boss Neil Stock said: “We are very well aware that there are some very strong views about the newLocal Plan and we are all keen to see one in place as soon as possible.

“I would urge all those who have an opinion to make it known – either through one of the exhibitions or through the other channels available.”

The council’s previous Local Plan ran out in 2012, leaving the district open to speculative applications from developers.

Tendring had been working towards a plan for 6,000 new homes, but it was dropped last year following fears it would be rejected by planning inspectors.

Thenumber was doubled to 12,000, leading to protests by residents outside Local Plan meetings, but that number has since been cut to 10,000.

Tendring Council said having an up-to-date Local Plan was “critical” for creating job opportunities, attracting investment in new and improved infrastructure, protecting the environment and ensuring that new homes are built in the right places and achieve the right standards of quality and design.

The consultation paper will be available to view at public exhibitions, libraries, Weeley council offices and Clacton Town Hall. Exhibitions will take place at Clacton’s Pier Avenue Baptist Church on September 5 from 10am-3pm, at Weeley council offices on September 7 from 10am-9pm, at Harwich’s Park Pavilion on September 14 from 3pm-7.30pm and at Tendring Education Centre, in Jaywick Lane, Clacton, on September 19 from 12.30pm- 4.30pm.