Town and village greens share a similar history to common land. However, they are defined separately for the purposes of the Commons Registration Act 1965.

In general terms, common land is land owned by one person over which another person is entitled to exercise rights of common (such as grazing animals or cutting bracken for livestock bedding), and these rights are generally exercisable in common with others. However, in legal terms, the situation is inevitably more complex. There is no single definition of the term 'common land', or indeed of 'common' or 'common rights'. The Commons Registration Act 1965 introduced the first statutory definition of 'common land', but this is strictly relevant only for the purpose of deciding whether land was or was not eligible for registration under the Act.

Town and village greens are usually areas of land within defined settlements or geographical areas which local inhabitants can go onto for the exercise of lawful sports and pastimes. Typically, these might include games, picnics, fetes and other similar activities. Whilst land forming town and village greens may be privately owned, many greens are owned and maintained by local parish or community councils. Some greens may also have rights of common, such as grazing of livestock over them.

Derby City Council is a Commons Registration Authority and has a statutory responsibility under the Commons Registration Act 1965 for maintaining and keeping up-to-date the registers of Common Land, and Town and Village Greens for the Derby City area.

Our Land Searches section holds the registers of Common Land, and Town and Village Greens for the Derby City area. The registers for the rest of Derbyshire are held by Derbyshire County Council.

Making an application

We are also responsible for processing applications to register Town and Village Greens.

If you consider that an area of open space is a Town or Village Green, then please read the DEFRA guidance notes  96kb which outline the qualifying criteria and tests for registration of an application. 

After you have read the guidance notes, then complete application form E44  36kb.

We recommend that you ask people who support your application to complete the public evidence form  84kb. You should then return the public evidence forms, along with your completed application, to us at the address below.

Current applications

Land at Ainley Close, Derby

Ref: DER/VG/2
Applicant: Mr John Hulse
Submitted: 15 October 2007
Status: Public Consultation from 29 August until 10 October 2008 
Download Ainley Close site notice 20kb

Land adjacent No. 1 Corden Avenue

Ref: DER/VG/5
Applicants: Mr Simon Telford, Ms Janette Jackson and Mr Anthony Hueck
Submitted: 10 June 2008
Status: Public Consultation from 29 August until 10 October 2008 
Download Corden Avenue site notice 20kb

Land at the site of the former Sturgess School, Kedleston Road and known as Sturgess Fields

Ref: DER/VG/4
Submitted: 9 January 2008
Status: Public Consultation from 3 September until 17 October 2008 
Download Sturgess Fields site notice  23kb

Determined Applications

 

Land at Wilson Street, Derby

Ref: DER/VG/1
Applicant: Mr C. Underhill
Submitted: 5 April 2007
Determined: 27 May 2008
Decision: Reject application

Application to Register Land at Wilson Street, Derby as a Town or Village Green. Ref DER/VG1. Download Report of the Assistant Director - Regeneration, Derby City Council  163kb

Application to Register land at Wilson Street, Derby as a Town or Village Green. Download Report of Miss Lana Wood  696kb

Application to Register land at Wilson Street, Derby as a Town or Village Green. Download Summary of the Key Points in the Report of Miss Lana Wood  60kb

All applications can be viewed at our offices at Roman House, Friar Gate, Derby.

For further information contact

Commons Registration Officer
R114
Derby City Council
Regeneration and Community
Roman House
Friar Gate
Derby DE1 1XB

Telephone 01332 255024  Minicom 01332 256666  Fax 01332 255989  email villagegreens@derby.gov.uk

For additional information on village greens, you can visit these web sites

The Open Spaces Society 
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs - DEFRA