Worcester's sports facilities, housing market and the proposed redevelopment of Earl's Court Farm will be under the spotlight when city council planners ask for people's opinions.

The move is part of a major consultation process for the Local Development Framework, which maps out major planning projects for the next three years.

People will be able to give their thoughts on issues such as:

l Housing: Is there enough affordable housing? How will the market react to 4,000 more University Of Worcester students? Does more need to be done to help the homeless?

l Open space and sports facilities: Should developers have to pay a contribution toward community recreation sites? What facilities is Worcester missing?

l Earl's Court Farm: A total of 187 houses and apartments are planned. Is that too many? What type of homes should they be? What transport, footpaths and landscaping are needed?

Planning officers will take a roadshow around every Worcester ward during November and December, showing plans to residents, taking down comments and answering questions.

Follow-up meetings and focus groups will also be encouraged.

At a planning committee meeting on Thursday, Coun Francis Lankester said: "We need to make sure people know what power they have and what we can and can't do, otherwise, at the end, they might turn around and accuse us of consulting for the sake of it.

"But these are difficult problems and hopefully other people's experience and suggestions can be valuable."

Coun Robert Rowden, chairman of the committee, said: "There's a problem with consultation in planning issues because some people always want things left as they are.

"It inevitably means that some views will be ignored but one hopes that some ideas and information can be taken on board."

More information on the consultation dates is due to appear in the Worcester News and Berrow's Journal when dates have been confirmed.