TIME is running out for residents of Stroud district who want to have their say on the local plan.

The local plan outlines areas for housing across the district and councillors recently agreed to the inclusion an additional 200 homes.

A six-week public consultation for residents to have their say on the plan began in July and will finish on Wednesday, September 9.

The local plan relates to the whole of the district and provides a strategy for jobs, new homes, services, facilities and infrastructure that will last until 2031.

The figure of at least 11,400 dwellings for the period 2006/31 (up from 11,200) was recently recommended by the government’s planning inspector, who examined the plan this year.

The main changes to the plan under consultation at this stage include the overall increase in housing requirement, increasing the Hunts Grove extension site at Hardwicke from 500 to 750 and increasing the employment requirement to 58 hectares.

Leader of Stroud District Council Cllr Geoff Wheeler said: “We await the outcome of the consultation with interest.

“The local plan inspector has confirmed that he is broadly happy with the housing numbers in our plan, which is very positive. If all goes well, we hope to have the plan adopted by Christmas.”

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation can view the documents at stroud.gov.uk/planningstrategy or visit Ebley Mill, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.

Comments can be made by filling in a comments form and emailing it to local.plan@stroud.gov.uk or by sending them to The Planning Strategy Team, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4UB.