Currently, Findern and Highfields do not have a neighbourhood plan, unlike many of our surrounding villages/parishes. We are looking to change this. In May 2023, we surveyed all householders in the Parish on whether they wanted a Neighbourhood Development Plan. The responses indicated overwhelmingly that residents would support a Neighbourhood Development Plan for our area.

Although the Parish Council has to be the nominal lead in the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, the most effective and responsive plans come from as many residents as possible getting involved in the process and having their say; whether that be in joining the steering group or responding to surveys and questionnaires to submit their views.

From the drop-in events that took place in December 2023 and January 2024, a core group of residents formed who were keen to get involved and be on the steering group for our Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The development process is facilitated by Helen Metcalfe BA (Hons), MA, MRTPI, who is the planning consultant appointed to support Findern through the process of developing the Neighbourhood Plan.

At their first meeting back in February 2024 , members of the group identified project areas to work on, to gather evidence that would shape the policies within the plan. This evidence base was brought to the second meeting on 5 March 2024 and members of the group discussed the progress made and identified new information to be sought, which was then brought to their next meeting on 16 April 2024; also, at this meeting the draft Vision and Objectives for the plan were agreed upon; these were published for comment from residents, before finalising these at the meeting in May 2024.

The group then focused on identifying and mapping in the parish: –

– Key views to be maintained

– Significant green areas

– Local Green Spaces

– Heritage buildings/sites

– Significant Flora and Fauna sites

– Transport links and cycle ways and footpaths

The group also worked with AECOM;  who were commissioned to carry out a Housing Needs Assessment for the parish; along with a Design Guidance and Codes for any future development.

The steering group has now signed off on the Design Guidance and Codes for Findern and the the Housing Needs Assessment; and these, along with all of the information gathered by the sub-groups were used by our planning consultant as evidence to inform the Neighbourhood Plan. The draft Plan was written in early autumn with the first draft made available  to the steering group at the end of November 2024. The steering group reviewed and amended the draft, and the pre-submission public consultation took place in March-April 2025 to gather the views of residents; land and business owners; and other interested parties on the proposed Plan. The steering group studied the feedback from the consultation and made further amendments to the Plan. At the end of October 2025 the Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents were submitted to South Derbyshire District Council for the next stage of the process, District Council led consultation and independent examination.

South Derbyshire District Council have advised that the document submitted, including the Findern Parish Neighbourhood Plan Basic Condition Statement was considered sufficient to meet the requirements of Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 20, 2012, and may therefore proceed to Regulation 16 – publicising the plan proposal.

A public Consultation in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Section 16 has now commenced; and will run until 5pm on Friday 8th May.

For further information and how to comment visit:
www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/FindernNP

Complete the form below to be kept up to date on the progress of the plan, or to let us know that you would like to be involved in shaping the plan.