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Commons and towns or village greens register

Common land is land usually privately owned, that now or in the past had common rights over it. Common land is generally open, unenforced and remote, particularly in the upland areas of England and Wales. Within England and Wales there is around 572,000 hectares of common land, of which 550,000 hectares are registered under the Commons Registration Act 1965.

Town and village greens share a similar history to common land. They are defined separately though for the purposes of the Commons Registration Act 1965.

Town and village greens were defined as areas of land,

• which were allocated by or under any act for the exercise or recreation of the inhabitants of the locality; or
• on which the inhabitants of any locality have a customary right to indulge in local sports and pastimes; or
• on which the inhabitants of any locality have indulged in such sports and pastimes as a right for not less than 20 years.

The Council keeps a register of commons and village greens. You can apply for an official search of the register by asking Question 22 on the CON29O form. For further information regarding the CON290 form see Local Authority searches .

The register is a legal register open for inspection by any member of the public during office hours (9am – 4pm), when an appointment is made. There is no charge for this service.

For further information contact the Local Land Charges Unit .

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