I have been metal detecting as a hobby for nearly two years now and am in desperate search of some land to have permission to detect on. I'm in ym late 20s, a member of the national council for metal detecting which includes insurance cover for anywhere I detect. As a day job I work in care, so I also have a DBS check I'd be happy to show to any land owners who would consider allowing me to use their land. All holes dug are refilled in, and any finds reported to the landowners and would be shared. (high value items would be split, usually equally, according to a search agreement)
PS - no land too small, even if you're just curious what's in your garden!! I have a spare detector if you or a little one would like to have a go detecting with me!
Please feel free to message me on 07709281302 - this is not my main phone number (I wouldn't want to post that on a public forum!) so I may not answer cls, probably best to text me and we can always arrange a call if you'd like.
You could try contacting the landowners after ploughing or before they build houses e.g. the ex-bungalow on Station Road and Chapel Street. The community council will probably know who owns what.
We did a little local metal detecting some years ago now. Found some old coins, one of which was a large cartwheel penny (apparently they were all dated 1797). All coins were in a very bad condition (corroded and twisted) and hardly recognisable but interesting all the same. Other findings were an old cylinder-shaped piece of lead, a copper bangle, and what looks like parts of old buttons. The things that were mostly found were from discarded drink cans and metal tops.
It's definitely worth speaking to landowners for permission due to the history of the local area.