How Can The Public Affect Your Land?

Preventing the creation of new public rights of way and town and village greens.

Please note that the contents of this article apply in relation to England only.

If your land is, or has the capability of being, used as a means of access from one place to another, or by members of the public for recreational purposes, then it is worth considering taking steps to prevent the creation of new public rights of way across the land concerned, or to prevent the designation of the land as town or village green.  Failing to take steps to prevent the creation of such rights can, especially in relation to the designation of land as a town or village green, be costly.  It is highly unlikely that land which has been registered as town or village green could be developed in the future, as it would be a protected community space, thus dramatically reducing the value of the land going forward.  A public right of way can also affect development potential.