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ARTICLE · 15 DECEMBER 2021

Public Access To Land: Protecting Your Plot In The UK

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The public has gained increasing awareness of rights to roam and of access to land in recent years. In this article, Veronica Carey highlights the risks to private landowners of new public rights...

United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Veronica Carey
Veronica Carey
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The public has gained increasing awareness of rights to roam and of access to land in recent years. In this article, Veronica Carey highlights the risks to private landowners of new public rights being acquired over their land through long use by the public. She also explores some of the ways in which landowners can protect themselves against these risks.

Pitfalls

Local authorities (in their capacity as ‘surveying authorities' under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) are required to maintain a ‘definitive map and statement' recording and describing public rights of way in their area. The map is open to public inspection. The term ‘definitive' is something of a misnomer. Buyers and developers should be aware that the map is not conclusive evidence of all public rights of way.

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