Planning (Wales) Act 2015 Explanatory Notes

Section 52 – Statement by owner to end use of land as of right

185.This section makes amendments to section 15A of the Commons Act 2006 so as to apply that section to Wales.

186.Applications can be made to register land as a town or village green under section 15 of the 2006 Act, broadly, where the land has been used “as of right” for lawful sports and pastimes by a significant number of people in the local community for at least twenty years. Use as of right means without force, secrecy or permission, the rationale being that a landowner must know and acquiesce in the land being so used.

187.Under section 15A of the 2006 Act, an owner of land may deposit a statement and map with the commons registration authority, the effect of which is to bring to an end any period during which persons have undertaken sports and pastimes on the land in question as of right.

Back to top