As a Commons Registration Authority under the Commons Registration Act, 1965 - Bedfordshire County Council is responsible for maintaining the registers of Common Land and Town or Village Greens which members of the public can inspect free of charge.

This currently includes updating the registers when ownership of common rights change, or where rights are apportioned (although the circumstances in which we can amend the registers are limited). We amend the registers when we are notified by the Land Registry of changes in ownership of land and we can amend the registers in some instances to show changes in address.

The Commons Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 19 July 2006 and will repeal the 1965 Act at a later date. The new Act will give Commons Registration Authorities new responsibilities.

Bedfordshire County Council carry out searches of the Common Land and Town or Village Green Registers. Normally, a Commons Search is carried out when a property is being bought or sold and usually via your solicitor. Search certificates will reveal whether land is registered as common or village green, if there are rights of common, and whether or not ownership is registered.

 

From 1^st August 2007 a Commons Search became part of a Local Authority/Local Land Charge Search when the new CON29 (2007 Edition) was introduced. The new Question 22 on the new CON29 Optional form was introduced to include common land/village green enquiries originally made under the old CR21 Commons Search form. Initially for a temporary period DEFRA decided to retain the old CR21 Commons Search form along side the new CON29 Optional form. 

 

However the CR21 Commons Search form officially ceased on October 1st 2007, and as from this date all Common Land and Village Green Searches must now be submitted as question 22 on the CON29 Optional form and sent in the first instance to the relevant District.