Registering a village green

The Commons Act 2006 allows for applications to be made to register land as a new village green. You will need to show that the land in question has been used:

• for a period of at least 20 years
• for the purposes of lawful sports and pastimes
• 'as of right' (for example, without force, secrecy or permission)
• by the inhabitants of a locality, or a neighbourhood within a locality.
  

Alternatively, a landowner may voluntarily register land as a new village green, in which case, it is not necessary to demonstrate a set period of use.

Further details can be obtained by downloading our village green application pack (PDF, 220k). Before making an application, please check the applications register (PDF, 32k) to ensure that we have not already received an application for the land in question.

You can view the current consultations, public inquiries and recent decisions. 

Please note:

Following the enactment of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013, it is now no longer possible to make a Village Green application in relation to land that is affected by, or has been identified for development. This does not affect any existing applications made before 25 April 2013.

The application pack will be updated shortly to reflect the changes. In the meantime, anyone thinking of making an application which may be affected by the new provisions is invited to discuss the application with the Commons Registration Team.