Members of the public will have their say on a giant blueprint for development in Epping Forest after plans for a consultation were approved.

At a meeting of Epping Forest District Council last night (October 18), councillors voted for the public consultation on the draft Local Plan to go ahead.

The 260-page document of text, maps and diagrams highlights areas of land in the district which could be built on up until 2033.

The consultation is set to run between October 31 and December 12.

The council hopes the Local Plan will be adopted by October 2018, after central government set a deadline of 2017.

A website has been launched for the consultation, and public exhibitions and information points will be set up to raise awareness.

Ahead of the consultation, the draft plan has received some criticism from around the district.

People have claimed inappropriate areas have been selected as possible development sites.

There is also widespread concern that facilities would be put under too much strain if many of the possible housing developments go ahead.

For more information, visit http://eppingforest.consultationonline.co.uk/.