TIME is almost up for the Stroud residents to have their say on recommendations on the number of new homes to be built in the district.

Councillors agreed to include an increase of 200 homes in the draft Stroud District Local Plan draft in July, following feedback from the Planning Inspectorate.

In July it started a six-week consultation on the latest changes to the plan, which ends on Wednesday September 9.

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

The figure of at least 11,400 dwellings for the period 2006-2031 was recently recommended by the government’s planning inspector, who examined the plan this year.

The main changes to the plan, which are being consulted on, at this stage include increasing the housing requirement to 11,400 dwellings and increasing the Hunts Grove extension site at Hardwicke from 500 to 750 dwellings.

Councillor Geoff Wheeler, leader of Stroud District Council, 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.”

Comments will be taken into consideration by the planning inspector before he issues his report later this year.

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation can view the documents at www.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.