More than 900 homes are to be built each year – including on Green Belt land – as part of a new Local Plan aimed at hitting government targets.

St Albans City and District Council has released its latest document looking at the years 2020 to 2036 and is urging residents to take part in a six-week consultation on the matter.

The Local Plan covers future housing, business and infrastructure developments in the region, including the building of almost 15,000 new homes.

Around 5,000 of these are to be built on land within the city and other existing settlements.

Other options include expanding existing settlements into Green Belt, building on other large sites that contribute least to Green Belt objectives or creating new Garden Villages.

Cllr Mary Maynard, responsible for planning at St Albans City and District Council, said: “Producing a Local Plan is one of the most challenging and complex tasks the council undertakes.

“A lot of hard work, such as discussions with neighbouring local authorities, has gone on behind the scenes and now we are ready to consult with our residents and local workers.

“I urge people of all ages and backgrounds to take an interest in the Local Plan by attending one of the exhibitions, watching the video and reading the questionnaire before giving us their views on the future development of the District.

“We are particularly keen for the under-40 age group to get involved. They haven’t engaged as much as we would have liked in the past and it is important that their voice is heard.

“We’ve many major decisions to make about where thousands of new homes should be built and what infrastructure should be provided. We want to give everyone the chance to have their say.”

Her words were echoed by Cllr Iain Grant, Labour spokesperson for planning, and Cllr David Yates, their Liberal Democrat counterpart.

They both encouraged all of St Albans’ 60,000 households to contribute to the debate and shape the future of where they live.

A questionnaire has been sent out to residents, businesses and other organisations to give them a chance to give their views on the key issues. These can be completed online or returned via post.

A five-minute video explaining the background to the Local Plan has been made, while exhibitions will be held across the district at community halls and other venues.

Councillors and planning officers will be on hand at the events to answer questions as well as explain and discuss the issues.

The exhibitions will take place in St Albans, Harpenden, London Colney, Wheathampstead, Redbourn and Bricket Wood. Further details of the location, dates and times are also available on the council’s website.

The consultation runs until February 21. After it is finished, all views will be taken into account while a draft of the new Local Plan is completed.

If all goes to schedule, it will be considered by full council in the summer, consulted on again in the autumn, and submitted to the Government in March 2019.