A further round of public consultation started on Friday on the new local plan for Ipswich.

The blueprint will set the framework for how Ipswich is set to develop in the future, including plans for housing and employment.

The local plan is made up of two documents and will help to determine how future planning applications are dealt with.

The borough council has doubled the length of the consultation period to 12 weeks as it wants to gather as many opinions as possible on the documents.

Previously, draft versions were made available to the public but those on show now are the versions the council would like to adopt.

Carole Jones, the council’s portfolio holder for planning, said: “These documents are key to shaping the future of Ipswich and will guide and support economic growth while also protecting and enhancing the town’s important assets.

“This consultation is an important stage in finalising the strategy, which we look forward to implementing over the years to come.

“I hope people will take this last opportunity to comment on the documents before they are placed before the Government’s planning inspector.”

The council will also be holding a number of public drop-in sessions during January and February. These will be at:

Ipswich Town Hall (Pickwick Room), 11am-4pm, January 20 and 21

Ipswich Sports Club, Henley Road, 11am-4pm, January 23 and 24

The Meeting Place, Limerick Close, 3pm-8pm, February 11

All Hallows Church Hall, Landseer Close, 3pm-8pm, February 12

Colchester Road Baptist Church, 3pm-8pm, February 13

St Peter’s Church, Stoke Park Drive, 3pm-8pm, February 17

Ipswich Town Hall (Pickwick Room), 11am-4pm, February 20 and 21

Following the consultation the documents will be submitted to the planning inspector next summer with a view to adopting them later in 2015.

You can respond to the consultation at www.ipswich.gov.uk/consultations. Representations must be received by 5pm on March 5.