More than 12,000 new homes are being eyed for Suffolk Coastal over the next two decades as the first draft of the new local plan is revealed.

Suffolk Coastal District Council’s cabinet met on Tuesday night where the first draft of the local plan for 2016-2036 was published.

In it, anticipated growth of 12,000 homes over that period was identified – with around 545 needed per year.

Cabinet agreed the first draft, meaning it will go out to public consultation for eight weeks from Friday, July 20, where people can comment, highlight concerns or leave positive comments.

Philip Ridley, head of planning and coastal management at the council said: “It’s a critical document for the future of the district.

“It’s an infrastructure and economic led plan to help build on our strategy and challenge the issues we have.”

The local plan will form a framework to help inform future planning decisions, highlighting areas identified for development and others which should remain undeveloped, as well as what infrastructure and services are needed in certain areas.

Currently, councils which cannot demonstrate a five year land supply which is outlined in the local plan can be at risk of ‘speculative developers’.

The plan means this will not continue, with applications which do not conform to the plan being able to be refused on those grounds.

Mr Ridley said the plan meant the district would get the “right applications” for driving infrastructure improvements needed.

Among some of the key areas will be Felixstowe, which has more than 1,500 new homes allocated over the 20 year lifespan of the plan alongside 1,720 already granted planning permission, as well as the 2,000 Adastral Park homes given the go ahead earlier this year.

Saxmundham is expected to deliver just over 1,000 homes by 2036 – 800 of those being new allocations, with Trimley St Martin, Wickham Market and Darsham also set to deliver three-figure sums of homes.

The plan added: “This local plan seeks to be ambitious in growing the district’s economy, in particular recognising the opportunities presented by the Port of Felixstowe, the energy sector and key transportation routes, boosting the delivery of homes to contribute to addressing the national housing shortage and responding to needs for a greater mix of homes and increasing delivery of affordable housing, whilst improving infrastructure provision.”