Public land
In the UK public land is essentially land which is owned by the Government, or belong to part of the central government estate, which may include land of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Ministry of Housing (formerly the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities), Homes England, the Department of Health, Social Care or the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) or the Forestry Commission.
Public land is not the same as public access land, publically accessible land or common land, though some public land is for public access, for example some forests are publicly owned forests, managed by the Forestry Commission, which is a non-ministerial government department and are available to the public for recreation. On the other side of the spectrum some public land is run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and in most cases is most definately not publically accessible.
The term common land is also sometimes used to refer to land in public ownership or to which everyone has access but this is incorrect. Land must be legally registered as a common to have such status. It is a popular misconception is that any person has a right to enter common land. Although this is usually the case, it is not automatically so, though there is a public right of access to nearly all common land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The laws as applied to common land are often the same as for any other piece of private land, other than for certain people who possess commoners’ rights. This is a complex and very locally-variable part of the law, and local advice should be sought about the exact status of the land and its users before using what might be common land.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992.
- Brownfield land.
- Brownfield registers.
- Common area.
- Common land.
- Commons Act 2006.
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
- Green belt.
- Land law.
- Land register.
- Land value.
- Park.
- Planning condition.
- Property rights.
- Public Land Taskforce.
- Right of way.
- Right to access land.
- Ty unnos.
- Types of land.
- Village green registration.
Featured articles and news
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help the homebuilding sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.