Outdoor Partnerships Highways and landowner statements and declarations

A landowner may prevent the public from acquiring new rights over their land through use, by challenging that use. Such challenge needs to be overt and brought to the attention of the public.

Examples of challenge can be the erection of notices, barriers or by locking a gate across the path at least one a year.

One option for a landowner to challenge use is set out in legislation. This enables the landowner (or their agent) to send us a statement and map, showing the extent of their land and what rights they admit exist over it. This will protect the land from claims for additional rights of way from the date of deposit for a period of twenty years after which it may be renewed. We're required to make such documents available to the public.

Statements and declarations can be made in respect of either rights of way, village greens, or both. Applications will need to be accompanied by the appropriate fee to cover our costs of logging the application, making it available on our website and paper register, and placing notices on site. These charges will be reviewed annually.