A six-week public consultation began on Friday on proposed modifications to the draft Local Plan for South Cambs.

Independently-appointed planning inspectors have reviewed the plan submitted by South Cambridgeshire District Council – as well as the one by Cambridge City Council, which is at the same stage – held hearings and visited sites affected by the building of 33,500 homes in the two districts.

Councillor Robert Turner, SCDC’s cabinet member for planning, said: “We are very keen for our communities to tell us what they think about these proposed modifications to our emerging Local Plan.

“We’ve been working with them for several years to shape the plan into the document it is at this point.

“It’s important to remember that the consultation is only asking for views on specific modifications, and the inspectors are not reopening any debate they’ve already heard during their examination.”

The draft plans make provisions for 19,500 homes and 22,000 jobs specifically for South Cambs – and residents, businesses, developers and parishes are invited to comment on proposed modifications.

The modifications include a method to calculate whether there is enough suitable land readily available in the next five years to meet the number of homes that need to be built, changing policies so affordable housing is sought on sites of more than 10 homes, allocation of additional employment land at the Addenbrooke’s Campus, and a new policy whereby the Local Plans will be reviewed in 2019 with a view to preparing a joint Local Plan for both Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

The latter was a commitment the two councils had already made as part of the Greater Cambridge Partnership agreement with the Government.

The inspectors consider the proposed modifications may be necessary to make the Local Plans ‘sound’. Their final conclusions will be given in their reports in due course.

To view the full list of modifications and take part in the public consultation go to www.scambs.gov.uk/mainmods by 5pm on Friday, February 16.