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Part 1E+WRegistration

Registration, deregistration and exchange of landE+W

15Registration of greensE+W

(1)Any person may apply to the commons registration authority to register land to which this Part applies as a town or village green in a case where subsection (2), (3) or (4) applies.

(2)This subsection applies where—

(a)a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality, or of any neighbourhood within a locality, have indulged as of right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years; and

(b)they continue to do so at the time of the application.

(3)This subsection applies where—

(a)a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality, or of any neighbourhood within a locality, indulged as of right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years;

(b)they ceased to do so before the time of the application but after the commencement of this section; and

(c)the application is made within [F1the relevant period ].

[F2(3A) In subsection (3), “ the relevant period ” means—

(a)in the case of an application relating to land in England, the period of one year beginning with the cessation mentioned in subsection (3)(b);

(b)in the case of an application relating to land in Wales, the period of two years beginning with that cessation.]

(4)This subsection applies (subject to subsection (5)) where—

(a)a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality, or of any neighbourhood within a locality, indulged as of right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years;

(b)they ceased to do so before the commencement of this section; and

(c)the application is made within the period of five years beginning with the cessation referred to in paragraph (b).

(5)Subsection (4) does not apply in relation to any land where—

(a)planning permission was granted before 23 June 2006 in respect of the land;

(b)construction works were commenced before that date in accordance with that planning permission on the land or any other land in respect of which the permission was granted; and

(c)the land—

(i)has by reason of any works carried out in accordance with that planning permission become permanently unusable by members of the public for the purposes of lawful sports and pastimes; or

(ii)will by reason of any works proposed to be carried out in accordance with that planning permission become permanently unusable by members of the public for those purposes.

(6)In determining the period of 20 years referred to in subsections (2)(a), (3)(a) and (4)(a), there is to be disregarded any period during which access to the land was prohibited to members of the public by reason of any enactment.

(7)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) in a case where the condition in subsection (2)(a) is satisfied—

(a)where persons indulge as of right in lawful sports and pastimes immediately before access to the land is prohibited as specified in subsection (6), those persons are to be regarded as continuing so to indulge; and

(b)where permission is granted in respect of use of the land for the purposes of lawful sports and pastimes, the permission is to be disregarded in determining whether persons continue to indulge in lawful sports and pastimes on the land “as of right”.

(8)The owner of any land may apply to the commons registration authority to register the land as a town or village green.

(9)An application under subsection (8) may only be made with the consent of any relevant leaseholder of, and the proprietor of any relevant charge over, the land.

(10)In subsection (9)—

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 15(3)(c) substituted (1.10.2013) by Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 (c. 27), ss. 14(2), 35(1); S.I. 2013/1488, art. 6 (with art. 8(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I1S. 15 wholly in force at 6.9.2007; s. 15 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 56(1); s. 15 in force for E. at 6.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/456, art. 3 (with art. 4(1)); s. 15 in force for W. at 6.9.2007 by S.I. 2007/2386, art. 3 (with art. 4(1))