A FINAL round of public consultation on the locations of 66,000 new homes in Leeds has begun this week.

Drop-in sessions are taking place across the city - with one planned in Otley today and Horsforth at the beginning of October - and the public are being urged to have their say.

The consultation will run until November 16 and residents are being asked for their views on potential locations identified for new housing, employment, retail and green space across Leeds up to 2028.

A drop-in session will be held from 2pm to 8pm on Thursday, September 24 at the Otley Resource Centre, Orchard Gate.

Another session will take place from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, October 3 at Horsforth Mechanics Institute.

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: "This public consultation is especially important as these plans are the keys to realising the city’s commitments to regeneration and providing new homes and jobs across the Leeds district. Seeking and considering people’s views meaningfully is a fundamental part of this process, so I would encourage as many people as possible to tell us what they think of the proposed locations.

“The plans continue to be underpinned by a focus on brownfield first, protecting our countryside, encouraging regeneration and bringing empty and former homes back into use. Having come this far in the process it is imperative we get the plans approved as soon as we can as without them the city will be more vulnerable to speculative, poorly planned and uncoordinated development, to the detriment of local communities across Leeds."

Adel and Wharfedale councillor Barry Anderson said: "What we need is genuine consultation on these proposed sites. People need to have the chance to comment and make their views known, and the Council needs to listen to the responses. I’ve already expressed concerns about the lack of any consultation events in my ward and I hope the Council will look again at this. The Council also needs to make sure the consultation material is in plain English so that people can understand the impact of the proposals on their area.”

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Paul Wadsworth said: "A lot of individuals and groups in my ward are doing detailed evidence-based work on these proposals and I very much hope that the Council will take notice of them. It’s vitally important that the consultation is thorough and fair and gives people a meaningful opportunity to comment and influence the process. The Council cannot afford to press ahead with their proposals regardless of what local people say."

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland stressed: "I have long campaigned to protect much valued local green belt and also demanded that we need affordable housing built in the right places, prioritising brownfield sites where possible. Many local residents I have spoken to have also voiced these views. The plans as they stand are far from perfect and we now have until November 16 to make our views known, so I would urge as many local residents as possible to attend one of the drop-in sessions."

Feedback can be given at www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcity and printed forms will also be available in libraries and one stop centres.