Hundreds of people have attended a series of exhibitions to find out more about a district’s blueprint for the next two decades.

It follows the release of the Local Plan for Dover, Deal and Sandwich, which maps out places for development in housing and business until 2040.

Thousands of homes are planned for the towns - including around 6,000 more in Whitfield alone, as part of the Whitfield Urban Expansion.

Other key areas for development include Dover's mostly-abandoned historic Citadel, where a mix of homes, leisure facilities and cafes are proposed.

The waterfront at Dover will also continue to be developed, following renovations at the Marine Curve.

Town centre locations in Dover are also earmarked for new housing, intruding land which once held the Crypt restaurant, which burnt down in 1977 and in which seven people were killed.

Land in surrounding villages are also included, such as Aylesham and St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe.

The Local Plan also includes policies to help adapt to climate change and preserve the environment, while also helping to deliver improvements to infrastructure, such as the Whitfield and Duke of York's roundabouts.

Responses received during the seven-week consultation will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate along with the Local Plan.

An independent examination will then be carried out in public to see whether the Plan can be adopted.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, leader of Dover District Council, said: “The Local Plan shapes the district up to 2040 and it is therefore crucial we all play our part in its development.

“Thank you to all those who came along to our public exhibitions and have taken the time to read through the Plan and provide feedback.

“This is invaluable to making sure we create a sustainable development framework to meet the needs of the growing population of the district.”

The Local Plan and all supporting documents are available at doverdistrictlocalplan.co.uk and you can have your say on the consultation portal until December 9.

Printed copies can be read at the council offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield and at all public libraries in the district. For full library opening times call 03000 413131.