MORE than ten thousand new homes will be built around York in coming years, but council bosses will first ask the public for their views.

Yesterday ruling councillors gave the greenlight for the latest draft of the Local Plan to go ahead, meaning a public consultation will open soon.

It will run for eight weeks, and will be the first chance people in York have to tell City of York Council planners what they think of the revised long-term house building and employment plans.

Cllr Ian Gillies, the executive member for planning, encouraged people to make use of the specially-extended consultation period.

He said: “I would urge everyone in the city who has an opinion to enter into the consultation.

“I am sure there is a lot contained that some people will agree with more than others.”

His comments were echoed by council leader David Carr, who added: “People tend to object and to express their concerns, while people who support it keep quiet. If you believe this is a good plan for York, please tell us.”

The draft plans are for around 8,200 new homes to be built around York by 2032 – around 500 a year - on top of 4,000 which already have planning permission.

Nearly 3,000 will be on two of the biggest sites – 1,250 on the brownfield York Central land, and 1,610 on greenfield land near Elvington.

Labour group leader Cllr Janet Looker said progress on the new draft was welcome.

“I am pleased it has got to this stage, but I think there are some quite high risks within the Local Plan. We shall see how it progresses and I look forward to hearing the responses from the public and professionals,” she added.

However, Cllr Nigel Ayre who chairs the key Local Plan Working Group, said it was an “evidence based” local plan which relies on the most up-to-date population statistics, and shifts development away from the greenbelt towards brownfield land.

In September 2014, the then Labour-run council published a draft plan which said the city needed just under 1000 new homes a year.