THE future of development in Redditch will soon take shape as the council prepares to take Local Plan No. 3 to a Public Local Inquiry following periods of public consultation.

Two six-week consultation periods ran from May 4 to June 15, asking people to comment on two aspects of the plan.

Firstly, views were sought on all Local Plan No. 3 'Omission Sites'. These are parcels of land which had been proposed for development but which the council subsequently rejected.

A total of 92 representations were received concerning omission sites, each one stating whether they agreed or disagreed with the council's decision to reject a specific site.

The majority supported the council's decision to reject particular sites.

Only 12 per cent of representations made disagreed with the council.

Views were also sought on the council's 'Suggested Changes to the Inspector'.

These were all the changes which have been made from the second revised deposit version of Local Plan No. 3 which the council is presenting for the inspector to consider.

A total of 35 representations were received on these suggested changes during the six-week period, 63 per cent supported specific changes, while 37 per cent objected.

All representations made during both consultation periods will be considered by a planning inspector when Local Plan No. 3 undergoes a Public Local Inquiry.

The inspector, Paul Graham, will consider representations and decide if further changes are needed. The findings will be set out in a report which is binding for the council.

At the end of the process, the plan will be formally adopted.

The plan, together with the Regional Spatial Strategy, the County Structure Plan and the Waste Local Plan, will form the statutory land use documents for development up to 2011 or until it is replaced.