What is a town or village green?
A town or village green is an area of open space which has been used by the public for the purposes of lawful sports, pastimes and recreation.
If there is successful registration of land as a town or village green, the land must remain open and cannot be built upon.
How to register land as a town or village green?
Under section 15(1) of the Common Act 2006, anyone can apply to the register land as a town or village green.
The application must establish that a significant number of inhabitants used the land ‘as a right’ for at least 20 years. ‘As a right’ signifies that the land has or is being used without permission or protest.
To apply, the applicant must provide an application to the council using the prescribed Form 44. The form provides instructions and guidance for correct completion. Completed applications can be sent to land.charges@bromley.gov.uk.
The government provides further guidance which further explains the rules and requisites for town or village green registration. Applicants must adhere to said guidance to ensure successful receipt of the application by the council.