Epping Forest District Council are about to open a consultation on the main modifications to their local plan.

The consultation seeks views on changes being proposed to the 2017 Local Plan Submission Version which is currently under independent examination. These are changes that the Local Plan inspector considers necessary before the plan can be adopted. These changes are known as main modifications.

The Local Plan outlines proposed development across the District until 2033. This main modifications stage follows the public examination hearings that took place between February and June 2019 and the inspector’s initial advice of August 2019.

This stage of consultation is limited to the changes (main modifications) proposed to the 2017 Plan and supporting documents that have informed these changes. It is not an opportunity to comment on parts of the 2017 Local Plan that are not proposed to be changed.

A Council spokesperon said: "The Local Plan is at an advanced stage in examination and this is an opportunity for people to submit their views on the changes proposed to the plan during the examination process.

"It is important that people are clear on the nature of the modifications proposed at this stage. They do not include identification of any new sites for allocation for development compared with the 2017 Local Plan Submission version.

"I would also stress that there is no need to repeat comments already made as part of the examination because these are already being considered by the inspector.

"The Local Plan is our highest corporate priority. Its adoption is critical in ensuring necessary development in the district is delivered in the most sustainable locations and is accompanied by the infrastructure that is required.”

Consultation will open for 10 weeks from 8 July 2021 until 16 September 2021.