Town and Village Greens developed under customary law as areas of land where local people indulge in sports and pastimes. These might include organised or ad-hoc games, picnics, fetes and similar activities. Unlike common land, there is no general right of public access over town or village greens. These are instead reserved for use by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood or locality. There is no distinction in law between a town green and a village green. You can view here the Definitions of Town and Village Greens.
In Cornwall:
- 76% of Greens are registered in the ownership of Parish and Town Council
- 16% owned by individuals
- 8% owned by the Church Commissioners.
Two Greens in Cornwall are subject to grazing rights, including the grazing of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs. Seven Greens are registered as recreational allotments arising from the Enclosure Awards of Cornwall 1812 - 1882.
Some files on this page may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you require a document in a different format please email the Commons and Greens Office at commonsandgreens@cornwall.gov.uk
Application Forms and important information
- Public Open Spaces And The Open Spaces Act 1906
- Guidance On The Interpretation Of Section 15 Of The Commons Act 2006 Defra December 2014, Pages 105 114
- Guidance On The Interpretation Of Section 15 Of The Commons Act 2006 Defra December 2014, Pages 115 124
- Reduction Of Section 15(3)(C) Period. Section 14 Of The Growth And Infrastructure Act 2013
- Restrictions On Right To Register Land As A Town Or Village Green. Section 16 Of The Growth And Infrastructure Act 2013
- Schedule 1A Exclusion Of The Right To Apply Under Section 15 Of The Commons Act 2006.
- Statement By An Owner Of Land. Section 15 Of The Growth And Infrastructure Act 2013
- Town And Village Greens Faqs
- Evidence Q ACRA F
- Guidance To Applicants Defra October 2013
- Power To Provide For Fees. Section 17 Of The Growth And Infrastructure Act 2013
Notices for the registration of new town or village greens in Cornwall
Decisions
Applications made under Section 15 of the Commons Act 2006, and the 2008 Regulations (i.e. made after 1 October 2008):
- Application 3148 Granted March 2024. 0.543 hectares of land at Sticker Activity Park (VG708), Sticker in the Parish of St. Mewan.
- Application 3016. Refused May 2023. Application seeking to change the designation of 0.313 hectares of common land at Lizard Green (CL220) to town or village green in the Parish of Landewednack.
- Application 3142. Granted March 2023. 0.33 hectares of land at Playing Place Woods (VG 707), Playing Place in the Parish of Kea.
- Application 3141, Granted August 2022. 0.047 hectares of land at Herodsfoot Village Green (VG 706) in the Parish of Landreath
- Application 2964, Granted October 2020. 0.029 Ha Of Land At Penpoll Creek (VG 705), Lerryn In The Parish Of St. Veep
- Application 2970 Granted, December 2019. 0.190 Ha Of Land At Higher Truscott (VG 703), In The Parish Of St. Stephens By Launceston.
- Application 2946, Granted, August 2018. 0.932 Ha Of Land At Treloggan Green (VG 701), Situated At The Rear Of Bookers Warehouse, Treloggan Road, Newquay
- Application 2943, Granted, November 2017. 0.048Ha Of Land At Lawton Close (VG 700), Newquay
- Application 2931, Granted, November 2017. 0.008Ha Of Land At Henwood (VG 699), In The Parish Of Linkinhorne
- Application 2933, Rejected, June 2017. 0.59 Ha Of Land At Alverton Playing Field, Mount Misery, Penzance
- Application 2874, Rejected, February 2016. 0.078 Ha Of Land At Glebe Place Green, Ruan Minor, In The Parish Of Grade Ruan
- Application 2870, Granted, September 2015. 0.886 Ha Of Land At Gerrans Cricket Field (VG 698), In The Parish Of Gerrans
- Application 2855, Rejected, March 2015. 0.860 Ha Of Land At Bosvale Field, Boslowick Road, Falmouth
- Application 2823, Rejected, April 2014. 0.023 Ha Of Land At Kay Gardens, Wadebridge
- Application 2818, Granted, November 2013. 0.029 Ha Of Land At Penrose Village Green (VG 697), In The Parish Of St. Ervan
- Application 2824, Granted, October 2013. 1.696 Ha Of Land At Stithians Playing Field (VG 696), In The Parish Of Stithians
- Application 2780, Granted, March 2013. 0.279Ha Of Land At Woburn Road (VG 695), Launceston
- Application 2736 Granted, November 2010. 1.570 Ha Of Land At Esplanade Road Green (VG 693), Newquay
- Application 2737 Granted, November 2010. 16.300Ha Of Land At East Pentire Headland (VG 694), Newquay.
Applications made under Section 15 of the Commons Act 2006, and the 2007 Interim Regulations. (i.e. made between 6th April 2007 and 30th September 2008):
- Application 2716 Granted, October 2009. 0.188Ha Of Land At Bangors Green (VG 692), In The Parish Of Poundstock
- Application 2714 Rejected, March 2020. Land At Forder, Saltash
- Application 2714 Report Rejected March 2020. Land At Forder, Saltash
- Application 2714 Appendix Report And Recommendation To Cornwall Council
Applications made under section 13 of the Comons Registration Act 1965, and the 1969 New Land Regulations, as amended by section 98 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. (i.e. made between 1st February 2001 and 5th April 2007):
- Application 2696 Decision Pages 1 10
- Application 2696 Decision Pages 11 18 Dismantled Railway Land, Hayle. Rejected, March 2009
- Application 2701 Abridged Cowlands Creek, In The Parish Of Kea. Rejected, January 2009
- Application 2709 Decision Pages 1 15
- Application 2709 Decision Pages 16 30 Byberries, Burraton Cross, Saltash. Rejected, November 2008
- Application 2658 Extract Of Report Of Inspector. Carlyon Bay, St. Austell. Rejected, February 2005
Applications made under section 13 of the Comons Registration Act 1965, and the 1969 New Land Regulations prior to amendment by section 98 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. (i.e. before 1st February 2001):
Applications made under Schedule 2 of the Commons Act 2006
- Decision 3024 Polyphant Green - Refused July 2023. Application for village green registered as common land in the Parish of Lewannick.
- Application 2770 Granted, 2012. The Old Chapel, Trenarren, In The Parish Of St. Austell Bay. Removal From Register
- Application 2973 Granted, December 2019. 0.123Ha Of Land At Lerryn (VG 704), In The Parish Of St. Veep. Formerly Registered As Common Land
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Defra or The Open Spaces Society.
Land can be designated a Public Open Space (POS). More recently, Local Green Spaces can be protected under:
- part 5.3 (List of assets of community value)
- part 6.3 (Neighbourhood Planning)
- part 5.2 (Community right to challenge) of the Localism Act 2011
Please contact Cornwall Council's Planning Department for further advice.
