THE future of Worcester including housing, supermarkets, and employment is underway at the Guildhall.

A public inquiry into the city council's local plan, which maps out Worcester's physical make-up until 2011, will also see supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury plans for their future in the city.

Representatives from Worcester City Football Club will also be airing their views towards the end of the inquiry, on Wednesday, March 19.

Inspector Clive Richardson began chairing discussions and hearing public objections yesterday at the Guildhall.

The review opened with two informal hearings into proposed housing at Earls Court Farm, Dines Green, and the need for a "open green corridor" to be retained at Broadway Grove, St John's.

Major housing developers were due to congregate today at a round table session to discuss the city's housing requirements for the next eight years.

Representatives from the House Builders Federation, Laing Homes, Hallam Land, Warndon Consortium, Robert Hitchins, Bryant Homes and the city council were all due to attend.

Tomorrow, Morris & Co, Laing Homes, St Modwen Developments, Warndon Consortium, the Ellis Trust, Robert Hitchins, Lansdowne Rodway Estates and Worcester City Council are due to meet to discuss land for employment purposes.

Next Thursday, Laing Homes are set to discuss a potential development at Middle Battenhall Farm, believed to be housing, a park-and- ride and more employment.

On Tuesday, January 28, Warndon Consortium will be discussing land in its area, and two days later, Hallam Land put their point across on development at Earls Court Farm.

On Wednesday, February 5, employment at Ronkswood Hospital, Newtown Road, is up for debate and the day after, development at Whitewood Way and Newton Road, on behalf of Spetchley Estate.

The following day, Lansdowne Rodway Estates and Royal Porcelain are due to come together to discuss employment.

And on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, 18, Worcestershire County Council property services will be debating employment and development at Grove Farm, respectively.

The inquiry is due to end with a discussion on Northwick Lodge on Friday, March 28.