YOU thought the EU referendum was complicated? Try understanding York’s local plan.

The new draft plan produced by the city’s ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition identifies enough land to build about 500 new homes every year between now and 2032.

That is barely half the 996 new homes a year envisaged in Labour’s most recent draft plan, dated 2014.No surprise there. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have long made clear that protecting the green belt is one of their overriding concerns.

What is more difficult to grasp is the Conservative and Liberal Democrat claim that, despite provision being made for just 500 new homes a year, the actual number being built between now and 2032 will be nearer the 841 new homes a year they say analysis proves York needs.

Planning permissions already granted and the potential to build on ‘windfall’ sites (small areas of brownfield land that have unexpectedly become available) will make up the difference, they argue.

Labour, which set building new homes as one of its priorities, is likely to have something to say about that. It will get its chance. The draft plans will be considered by councillors later this month, before a public consultation.

The devil will be in the detail. So if you care about the future of York, examine this draft plan, then have your say. For now, however, we are simply glad to see progress being made. The Local Plan must be completed early next year. Failure to meet that deadline could see central government imposing a plan on York. And no matter what you think of this latest draft, nobody wants that.