Is there a law?

[Nikki777]

That states that if land has been used communaly and by children to play on for lots of years (say 20) that the land can not be built on?

[Ethel]

No - village greens, playing fields, common land have all been built on, despite residents objections

[buildersmate]

Ooh - careful Ethel. I have great respect for your wide knowledge, but on this one, I'm not so sure. I think the issue is that land has to be on the Register of Common Land held by the County Council. Village Greens can also be registered. There are an awful lot of 'commons' that exist that are not registered - they are either not owned by anyone, or they are legally owned by the local council or they are privately owned. The whole situation at Newton Common near Newbury on which landmark legal cases were made came about because the land was privately owned yet under an agreement where the maintenance of the common was done by the council. (this was about access rights across the common - not building on it).

[dinoboxer]

Dont know if this is of any help:- My neighbour maintained a small patch of grass which actually belonged to the local authority i.e. council property. He cut it and planted shrubs on this patch of land for over 16 years. He approached the local authority with a view to purchasing the said bit of land and was surprised when the local authority had no choice but to give him free of any charge the said land on the basis that he had maintaind it over 12 years without them (the local authority) doing anything to it