Residents in Breckland are being encouraged to give their views on where future development should take place in their district.

The final public consultation for the Breckland Local Plan, launched on Monday, will give people the opportunity to vote on sites in their towns and villages which have been earmarked as possible sites for house-building.

The Local Plan documents will also cover the creation of employment sites and local service provision to accompany the housing growth.

Between 2011 and 2036 the district council plans to build 14,925 new homes to meet national targets.

The Local Plan sets out preferred sites and conditions for development, which will give the council more control over determining planning applications for new homes in the district.

Breckland's market towns – Attleborough, Dereham, Thetford, Swaffham and Watton – will take the majority of the growth, with both Thetford and Attleborough seeing the construction of sustainable urban extensions (SUEs) of more than 5,000 new homes.

The consultation highlights another 18 towns and villages – including Ashill, Garboldisham, Mattishall, Necton, Old Buckenham and Weeting – where 'managed growth' will take place to support local services.

Around 150 new homes have also been allocated to 17 villages, classed as 'rural areas', across the district.

A number of communities in Breckland are developing their own Neighbourhood Plans, which can work in tandem with the Local Plan policies and allow the communities to influence growth in their area.

Charles Carter, Breckland Council's executive member for growth, said: 'Our online consultation can be accessed 24/7 throughout the consultation period.

'However, we are keen that anyone who wants to is able to speak with officers face-to-face and clarify any questions they may have, so we are holding more drop-in events for this third consultation, and extending the hours into the evening.'

The public consultation is asking people to comment on the preferred sites for housing and employment development being put forward – and on proposals for changes to settlement boundaries.

It will run for six week, closing at 4pm on October 31. It can be accessed online via the Breckland Council website at www.breckland.gov.uk/local-plan-consultation and there will be copies of the consultation documents at the council's principal offices in Dereham and Thetford, its customer service centres in Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton, and in the district's libraries.

There will also be a number of public drop-in events, where people can comment on the proposals and ask questions.

Comments can be submitted:

• Online - www.breckland.gov.uk/local-plan-consultation

• By email – with the subject heading 'Local Plan Consultation' to planningpolicyteam@breckland.gov.uk

• By post – marked 'Local Plan Consultation', to Planning Policy Team, Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE