Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council are reminding landowners that the statutory window to correct mistaken registrations of common land and village greens will close in just over a year’s time – on 15 March 2027.
After this date, it will no longer be possible to apply to deregister land, buildings or curtilages that were incorrectly registered in the late 1960s, unless the error was made by the commons registration authority itself.
When the original registers were created, authorities were required to record land exactly as submitted by applicants, provided no objections were received. This means that if an applicant mistakenly included land or buildings that should not have been registered, the error can only be corrected if the landowner submits an application. After March 2027, these mistakes will become permanent.
Over 100,000 hectares of land across Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland is registered as common land, contributing to almost a third of all common land in England. Common land is subject to the public’s right to roam. Additionally, over 200 village greens are registered across Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, which are subject to locals’ use for recreation.
Key changes taking effect after 15 March 2027 include:
- The end of applications to deregister land, buildings or curtilages mistakenly registered as common land or a village green (unless the error was made by the authority).
- The end of applications to register land that should have been recorded as common land or a village green in the 1960s but was omitted.
- The end of applications to move land mistakenly registered as common land into the register of town or village greens.
With only one year remaining before the deadline, landowners are strongly encouraged to check the register to ensure their farmland, buildings and curtilages have not been mistakenly included. Incorrect registration can affect land value, development potential and long term use.
The commons registration team has reviewed the registers and identified errors made by the original authorities.
These can be corrected at any time, as there is no deadline for this category of mistake. However, errors made by original applicants cannot be identified without information from landowners.
View the map of registered common land and village greens in Westmorland and Furness.
View the map of registered common land and village greens in Cumberland online.
Please note that the online map should be used as a rough guide only. To view the register and definitive legal plans, or to seek further advice, please contact Commons.registration@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or Commons.registration@cumberland.gov.uk