The district’s local development plan has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate after a three year process.

The plan for Braintree district has been submitted for examination after a number of consultations, the last of which saw 1,706 responses.

The plan identifies sites appropriate for future housing, business and employment, while protecting the surrounding countryside.

The final submission comes after a process which started in 2014 when the Council carried out a call for sites exercise, followed by an issues and scoping consultation in 2015 and a draft local development plan consultation in 2016.

Cllr Lynette Bowers-Flint, responsible for planning and housing, said: “It has taken a long time to get to this stage but having a local plan in place will give us more power to stop inappropriate development.

“Housing is an emotive issue whether you are concerned about changes to the area you live or whether you are someone who wants to get on the property ladder but can’t.

“We’re very pleased that so many people have got involved in the process at each stage and have taken their opportunity to have their say."

A report went to the local plan sub-committee on October 2 and from there Braintree Council submitted the local development plan, evidence base and all representations received to the Planning Inspectorate.

The local development plan is made up of two parts.

The first is a joint strategic plan prepared with Colchester Borough Council and Tendring District Council and deals with cross boundary issues, including garden communities.

Section two of the plan relates to the Braintree district area specifically.

Officers understand the strategic section one will be examined separately first, in a joint examination with partner authorities, with section two hearing sessions later in 2018.

The timetable after the submission is now set by the Planning Inspectorate.