RESIDENTS have less than a week left to help shape where thousands of houses and businesses will be built in the district.

Wycombe District Council’s public consultation over its new Local Plan closes on Friday, April 4.

The authority said about 1,500 people had attended its exhibitions and 34 public meeting, while a video box was also set up in Eden last weekend.

But the council said it had only received “about 400 detailed comments”.

Councillor Neil Marshall, WDC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability, said: “There has been a wide range of comments and issues which people have flagged up so far in the consultation, and obviously lots of food for thought.

“We know we’ve got some really tough decisions ahead of us and we need to hear what people think about them.

“The decisions we do make for the Local Plan are going to shape the future provision of homes, jobs and infrastructure in the district, as well as set out how we’ll work to protect our precious local environment.

“So please, if you haven’t had your say, there’s still time - email us or write to us with your comments.”

WDC has said may have to build between 500 and 700 new homes every year between now and 2031 to keep up with growth.

Up to 400 dwellings are currently built around the district every 12 months.

All local authorities have been told by the government to work out how many homes and jobs are required and plan to meet that need.

Visit www. wycombe.gov.uk/newlocalplan to view a document summarising the options in the Local Plan.

Email your comments to newlocalplan@wycombe.gov.uk or you can write to the Planning Policy Team at WDC in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1BB.

To read the BFP’s overview of the Local Plan, including an area-by-area break down of the proposals, click here.