A draft Local Plan has been published by East Hampshire District Council ready for councillor consideration and public consultation in the new year. 

The Local Plan is a crucial planning document that provides a vision for creating sustainable development in East Hampshire, as well as detailing proposed sites and planning policies. 

It says how much development is needed and where it should go, and what business sites are required. 

The plan will also set out how development can be managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. It encompasses all parts of the district outside the South Downs National Park and covers a period stretching to 2040.

It will be discussed by the planning policy committee on January 10 and, pending approval there, will then go to a six-week public consultation towards the end of January. 

Regulation and enforcement portfolio holder Cllr Angela Glass said: “We have published our draft Local Plan on our website so residents can have a look at it over Christmas. 

“The Local Plan is a hugely important document for the future of the district and sets out how it will sustainably grow over the next decade and a half. 

“However, it is still at the draft stage. It will be discussed by councillors in early January and, if they approve, it will be put out to public consultation towards the end of the month. 

“That’s when residents can get involved and have their say.

“So please be ready to make your comments during our consultation in January.” 

It is standard convention to publish documents to be discussed at council meetings one week before the meeting.

The draft Local Plan was published 19 days ahead of the January 10 planning policy meeting to give residents a chance to look it over during the Christmas break.