Neighbourhood Plan planned for Hayfield

Hayfield Parish Council has taken the first steps towards preparing a Neighbourhood Plan for the village - and your views are now being sought.

A four-week consultation begins today (Thursday 16 May) and anyone interested in the future development of the area has until 5pm on Thursday 13 June to comment.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act 2011 and is aimed at giving members of the community a voice in determining the future development of the area in which they live.

Once a Plan is prepared - and then adopted by High Peak Borough Council - it becomes part of the High Peak Development Plan and is taken into account when planning applications in the area are considered.

Councillor Anthony McKeown, Leader of High Peak Borough Council, said: "The Council fully backs neighbourhood plan approach and whilst to be approved any neighbourhood plan must meet the requirements of the adopted Local Plan, they are written by the local community - the people who know and love the area and can help to ensure the community gets the right types of development, in the right place.

"That's why it's important that everyone with an interest in the future development of Hayfield has the opportunity to comment on the application and I urge people to get involved and give us their views over the next four weeks."

The application can be viewed on the Borough Council's website - www.highpeak.gov.uk/Hayfield-Neighbourhood-Plan

It's also available to inspect during office hours at Buxton Town Hall and the Municipal Buildings in Glossop as well as the Peak District National Park Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell, DE45 1AE.

You can view the applications at Hayfield Library and the Parish Council offices on Dungeon Brow in the village - the offices are staffed on Mondays and Thursdays from midday to 1pm.

Comments can be made directly online using a simple webform which does not require registration. You can also email neighbourhoodplanning@highpeak.gov.uk or write to Regeneration, High Peak Borough Council, Town Hall, Market Place, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6EL.