Town greens, village greens and common land

Landowner deposits (Commons Act 2006)

There are no longer fees for posting notices for a Section 31(6) landowner deposit made under the Highways Act 1980. However, if you include a village greens application under the Commons Act 2006 you will be charged for notices being placed up on site.

Please contact [email protected] about this before making an application.

Legislation came into force on 1 October 2013 which made changes to the way in which landowners make deposits under Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980.

The changes include the:

• requirement for landowners to complete an application form instead of a statement and statutory declaration
• introduction of a reasonable fee for processing deposits. These fees are set out in guidance notes available from Highways Northamptonshire
• increase of the deposit renewal period from 10 to 20 years (for deposits submitted after 1 October 2013)

In addition there is the provision within the application form to make a combined deposit providing evidence to negative claims for Public Rights of Way (under Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980) and Town and / or Village Greens claims (under Section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006).

Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 and Section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006 applications

To make a landowner deposit please read the guidance notes and then complete and return the application form, both of which can be found on the Northamptonshire Highways section of the website.

You will also find previous applications made under both Acts on the above page.

Section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006

If you have already made an application solely under Section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006 and have received a letter from the Commons Registration Authority (CRA) notifying you of a fee which is now due, please use the form below to pay the amount.

Last updated 22 February 2023