The council's 11,400 home Local Plan will be scrutinised by a Planning Inspector in February and March.

Epping Forest District Council's wide ranging document will be probed by Louise Phillips who will test its legal soundness.

All those who made representations when consultation into the Plan was open must respond by December 21 if they wish to speak at the hearings.

The hearings will take place at the district council's civic offices and will run for a total of 15 days.

In a guidance note Ms Phillips wrote: "It should be understood that my role is to determine whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound as it stands.

"It is not to improve it, or to make it 'more' sound.

"Thus I am not required to cover each and every point raised in the representations, but rather to identify and address the main issues upon which the

matters of soundness and legal compliance turn."

To find out more go to www.efdclocalplan.org/local-plan/hearing-sessions