Access to open countryside: Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Dedicating land for access
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The CROW Act allows landowners and long leaseholders to voluntarily dedicate land for public access if they wish to do so. Making a dedication creates a right of access in perpetuity, (or until a long lease expires) even if the ownership of the land changes. Dedicators can also benefit from reduced liability under occupiers’ liability legislation.
You can dedicate any type of land including:
- land which would not otherwise be covered by the right of access (perhaps a wood, riverside or stretch of coast) where you want to secure public access rights for the future; or
- land to which the right of access already applies but where you want to ensure the right continues even if the character of the land changes, or where you want to create wider public access rights (e.g. to ride a horse, camp or cycle) in addition to the new right of access on foot.
Dedication gives a permanent right of access over the land, but does not prevent you from selling, letting or developing your land as you wish. You may also restrict public access to your land for up to 28 days per year for any reason, and for longer in certain circumstances.
Whether your interest is in creating a lasting public memorial to someone, putting existing access on a firmer footing, or simply putting something back into the community, you can find out more about dedicating land in our guidance note.
To help landowners consider whether dedication might be appropriate for their landholding, Defra and Natural England have published answers to some frequently asked questions.
Many organisations have already committed to dedicating land within their ownership. The Forestry Commission has pledged to dedicate its freehold estate, amounting to 165,000 hectares. Other commitments have been received from English Nature, the Environment Agency and National Park Authorities. Several local authorities, community forest partnerships and charities have also committed to dedicating land for access.
Dedication research project
In November 2005, Defra approved a research project by the Countryside Agency - now Natural England - to look at ways in which dedication of land for public access under s16 of CROW can be promoted and encouraged.
For further information on the project, please contact Joanna Redgwell at Natural England on 01242 533282.
Making a dedication
If you are interested in making a dedication you can find out more information from the guidance note below, which sets out the steps you will need to follow. Once you have done this, you can use Form A and Form B to make and register the dedication. Copies of the guidance and forms can also be ordered free of charge by telephoning 08459 556 000, quoting reference PB9253.
- Guidance on dedicating land for access (2 January 2004) [PDF] (223 KB)
- Form A - model dedication instrument
- Form B - registering a dedication as a local land charge
- Guidance for local authorities [PDF] (25 KB)
Archive material
Defra published a consultation paper about the Government's proposals for regulations setting out the procedures for making a dedication in January 2002. The regulations were subsequently issued in September 2003.
- News release 560/05 (30 November 2005)
- Dedications update - Autumn 2005 [PDF] (23 KB)
- News release (29 January 2004)
- The Access to the Countryside (Dedication of Land) (England) Regulations 2003 (1 September 2003)
- Analysis of responses (21 August 2003) [PDF] (79 KB)
- Consultation paper on dedicating land (closed 15 April 2002)
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Page last modified: 26 June 2008
Page published: 17 September 2004