A COUNCIL will launch a public consultation later this year about where to build up to 18,000 new homes in the district.

Braintree Council is working on a new Local Plan to identify sites where up to 845 new homes could be built up to 2033.

The council has been collecting evidence on highways, landscape, housing need, economic development and open space to inform the draft plan.

Council officers have now visited hundreds of areas submitted to the call for sites and met with other government organisations.

The draft is set to be discussed by the council’s Local Plan Sub Committee later this month and the plan will be discussed at a full council meeting in June.

There will then be a six week public consultation in June and July.

In early 2017, a revised draft will be sent to the Planning Inspector for consideration.

The document is scheduled for adoption in 2017.

The council’s timetable can be viewed at braintree.gov.uk/timetablein

All the evidence base and documents can be viewed at braintree.gov.uk/newlp