Landowner deposits
A landowner deposit is an intention by a landowner to not dedicate any additional public rights of way across their land.
This does not affect any legally recorded rights of way as shown on the definitive map. These rights of way will not be diverted or extinguished through this procedure.
Public rights of way can be created by the public walking, riding or driving across otherwise private land for a long time, usually in excess of 20 years.
The landowner might be quite happy with people doing this, but if they don't do something to protect their interests they may end up having allowed a public right of way to be created and so lose control of this land. This process whereby the public can gain legal rights by usage is often referred to as ‘prescription’.
Another right which the public can gain through the process of prescription is that of village green.
If the public have used a piece of privately owned land for 'lawful sports and pass-times' for 20 years or more then that land can be claimed and registered as village green.
Again, the owner then loses control over what they can do with their land in the future.
One way for landowners to protect themselves against the effects of prescription is to make a deposit under the terms of section 31 of The Highways Act 1980 (for footpaths, bridleways and byways) and section 15a of the commons act 2006 (for village greens).
These legal processes have to be periodically renewed in order to remain effective.
Whilst the landowner may be able to produce evidence that they have not dedicated the track by taking steps to prevent the general public from using it (by, for example, challenging users, erecting signs or only allowing use by specifically authorised people), it is often difficult to prove this at a later stage.
It is possible for landowners to protect themselves from future claims that a public path has come into being by implied dedication by making a deposit under Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980.
Lodging a deposit does not affect any right of way which may have been acquired through public use prior to the date of the deposit.
Check fees
To check fees required, see section 4 of the Definitive Map team charges for legal work.
Make an application
To make a landowner deposit, please use the guidance notes and application form on the Government website.
The completed application (including statement or declaration and map as appropriate) should be returned to:
West Northamptonshire Council
The Guildhall
St Giles' Square
Northampton
NN1 1DE
Email: [email protected]
Once the application is processed and recorded on the register, an invoice will be issued for the required fee.
If you make an application under the Commons Act 2006 (village greens protection), notices are also required to be posted on site, and therefore an additional notice fee is chargeable.
This will not be included in the main invoice and you will be contacted separately regarding this.
Notice of deposits
Notice of deposits submitted under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 and section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006.
West Northamptonshire Council, as the Highway Authority and Commons Registration Authority, is required to publish notice of any applications for deposits received under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 and section 15A(1) of the Commons Act 2006.
Please find below details of applications received since the notice requirement came into force on 1 October 2013. Notices will appear here on the register for a minimum period of 60 days.
| Ref Number | Parishes, Landowner and deposit type | Deposit notice and Notice map | Deposit or Declaration date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 028 | Ashton Le Wells, Chipping Warden, Woodford cum Membris Ivan Gerald William Bannister & Nancy Openshaw Bannister HA1980 CA2006 | 03/06/2015 | |
| 041 | Thorpe Mandeville Jeremy B. Greenhalgh and A. Meriel Greenhalgh HA1980 CA2006 | 06/11/2015 | |
| 213 | Brixworth James MacDonald - Buchanan HA1980 | 08/12/2011 | |
| 214 | Cottesbrooke Naseby Alastair Reginald MacDonald - Buchanan HA1980 | 08/12/2011 | |
| 215 | Cottesbrooke, Brixworth, Creaton, Guilsborough, Naseby, Lamport Montrose Trustees HA1980 | 08/12/2011 | |
| 223 | Brackley and Greatworth Mr John Robinson HA1980 | 19/12/2023 | |
| 254 | Crick West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 257 | Daventry West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 290 | Dodford The Master, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College Cambridge HA1980 CA2006 | 05/05/2016 | |
| 291 | Whitfield, Radstone, Syresham Anthony Bonner & Lawrence Bonner HA1980 | 07/10/2016 | |
| 292 | Brixworth The Master Wardens & Commonality of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol as the trustees of the charity called St Monica Trust HA1980 CA2006 | 09/12/2015 | |
| 293 | Watford Mr Andrew Eden HA1980 | 09/12/2015 | |
| 294 | Deanshanger Wicken Jonathon Kendal James Gurney and Maragaret Rose Gurney HA1980 CA2006 | N/A | |
| 295 | Moulton, Boughton Pitsford Moulton College HA1980 CA2006 | 22/03/2016 | |
| 296 | Courteenhall, Roade, Blisworth, Quinton Courteenhall Estate HA1980 CA2006 | N/A | |
| 300 | Silverstone Whittlebury Shacks Barn Farm, Silverstone HA1980 CA2006 | 27/07/2016 | |
| 302 | Welford Lucettes Fund Land at Welford Farms HA1980 | 12/09/2016 | |
| 304 | Staverton Land at Staverton HA1980 CA2006 | 19/10/2016 | |
| 305 | Everdon Everdon Hall HA1980 CA2006 | 28/10/2016 | |
| 308 | Sulgrave Ian Bernard Cherry HA1980 CA2006 | 11/07/2018 | |
| 309 | Hollowell, Creaton Mrs Anne Wallace HA1980 CA2006 | 24/04/2017 | |
| 311 | Northampton Martin Adams and McColl Limited HA1980 CA2006 | 18/10/2017 | |
| 312 | Cosgrove Mr John Hereward Wake HA1980 CA2006 | 11/09/2017 | |
| 313 | Collingtree Mr Kevin Davison HA1980 CA2006 | 15/09/2017 | |
| 314 | Old Stratford Alison Louise Goss, Peter Frank Holton, Samantha Boon HA1980 CA2006 | 06/10/2017 | |
| 318 | West Haddom Watford Mr Michael Stanton and Mrs Elaine Stanton HA1980 CA2006 | 09/01/2018 | |
| 320 | Watford Mr Richard John Payne HA1980 | 15/12/2017 | |
| 321 | Long Buckby Mr Stuart Simpson of SMS Holdings HA1980 | 19/12/2017 | |
| 324 | Boughton Clayson Country Homes Limited HA1980 | 06/02/2018 | |
| 325 | Clipston, Great Oxenden Colin Moreley, Alison Moreley HA1980 | 01/02/2018 | |
| 326 | Paulerspury, Whittlebury Mr C. Richmond Watson HA1980 CA2006 | 01/02/2018 | |
| 327 | Whittlebury Mr S. F. Richmond HA1980 CA2006 | 01/02/2018 | |
| 328 | Whittlebury Julian Richmond Watson HA1980 CA2006 | 01/02/2018 | |
| 329 | Whittlebury, Potterspury Julian Howard Richmond - Watson HA1980 CA2006 | 01/02/2018 | |
| 330 | Denton James and Richard Arrowsmith HA1980 | 05/02/2018 | |
| 331 | Ashton, Grafton Regis James, Diana and Richard Arrowsmith HA1980 | 05/02/2018 | |
| 332 | Overstone, Little Houghton James Arrowsmith HA1980 |
| 05/02/2018 |
| 333 | Creaton West Haddon Mr Roger Heygate HA1980 CA2006 | ||
| 336 | Weston & Weedon Mrs Vicki Streten HA1980 | 29/06/2018 | |
| 338 | Sulgrave Middleton Cheney Ian Bernard Cherry HA1980 CA2006 | 11/07/2018 | |
| 339 | Chacombe Middleton Cheney Moreton Pinkney Ian Bernard Cherry Margaret Ann Cherry HA1980 CA2006 | 11/07/2018 | |
| 340 | Boddington Mr William Asgby Adams & Mary Cathleen HA1980 CA2006 | 06/08/2018 | |
| 343 | Charwelton, Byfield The Trustees of the W A Adams Settlement Trust, Mr Nicholas David King Bowman, Catherine Mary Umbers, Rowan Caroline Adams HA1980 CA2006 | 06/08/2018 | |
| 346 | Quinton Turney Farming Partnership HA1980 CA2006 | 17/10/2018 | |
| 347 | Quinton, Hackleton Turney Partners HA1980 CA2006 | 17/10/2018 | |
| 354 | Silverstone Mr Stewart William Webb, Mr Ralph Edward Webb, Mrs Patricia Irene Webb HA1980 | 15/01/2019 | |
| 357 | Boddington Daventry Consolidated Charities HA1980 | 28/01/2019 | |
| 361 | Northampton Horsley Road Properties Limited HA1980 | 08/04/2019 | |
| 365 | Boddington Joannah Lucy Adams HA1980 CA2006 | 14/06/2019 | |
| 366 | Boddington Catherine Mary Umbers HA1980 CA2006 | 14/06/2019 | |
| 367 | Boddington Rowan Caroline Adams HA1980 CA2006 | 14/06/2019 | |
| 369 | Pitsford Mark Adams & Ruth Adams HA1980 | 17/07/2019 | |
| 370 | Chipping Warden and Edgcote Wills Estate HA1980 CA2006 | 17/07/2019 | |
| 371 | Flore Miss Ann Kathleen Wilson HA1980 | 31/07/2019 | |
| 372 | Silverstone Timothy Mayo, Amanda Mayo, Nicola Mayo HA1980 CA2006 | 09/09/2019 | |
| 374 | Northampton University of Northampton HA1980 CA2006 | 25/09/2019 | |
| 375 | Greatworth Halse Grange HA1980 CA2006 | 22/07/2019 | |
| 376 | Watford Mr Ian Richard Litchfield and Jhiona Lomboy Litchfield HA1980 CA2006 | 07/11/2019 | |
| 377 | Crick Mr Ian Richard Litchfield HA1980 CA2006 | 07/11/2019 | |
| 379 | Cold Ashby, West Haddon Phillip Robert Joseph Litchfield and Elaine Jean Litchfield HA1980 | 22/01/2020 | |
| 380 | Lamport, Scaldwell Holyroyd Litchfield Limited HA1980 CA2006 | 17/02/2020 | |
| 381 | Wappenham Aidan Jones HA1980 | 04/02/2020 | |
| 384 | Croughton Robert Adams HA1980 | 12/03/2020 | |
| 385 | East Haddon John Ross Goodman HA1980 | 15/05/2020 | |
| 386 | Brixworth Mr Christopher Saunders and Mrs Caroline Bailey HA1980 | 01/06/2020 | |
| 387 | Hollowell Pamela Jean Saunders HA1980 | 01/06/2020 | |
| 395 | Brixworth The Trustees of P J Saunders Merry Tom Settlement c/o Christopher Phillip Beavan HA1980 | 20/04/2020 | |
| 398 | Holdenby James Lowther, Karen Lowther, James W D Lowther HA1980 | 25/09/2020 | |
| 399 | Great Houghton, Brafield, Little Houghton The Davidge Usher Trust HA1980 | 09/10/2020 | |
| 406 | Eydon Leigh Nixon and Anthony Pellerin HA1980 | 12/04/2021 | |
| 409 | Silverstone Phillip William Hinton and Gwendoline Elizabeth Hinton HA1980 | 17/12/2020 | |
| 410 | Deanshanger The Trustees of the Ward Settlement, Adrian Paul Ward, Keith Austin Ward, Rita Ward HA1980 CA2006 | 08/04/2021 | |
| 412 | Silverstone Phillip William Hinton and Gwendoline Elizabeth Hinton HA1980 | 08/04/2021 | |
| 414 | East Haddon Michael Phillip Longden Stanton, Elaine Elizabeth Stanton HA1980 | 11/05/2021 | |
| 416 | Weedon Bec, Dodford, Newnham Michael Gordon Russell and Caroline Elizabeth Russell HA1980 | 06/01/2022 | |
| 417 | Dodford David James Russel, Anne Susan Marsden HA1980 | 06/01/2022 | |
| 420 | Newbottle, Hinton in the Hedges, Farthinghoe Alice Townsend HA1980 CA2006 | 10/08/2021 | |
| 421 | Kings Sutton John Townsend HA1980 CA2006 | 10/08/2021 | |
| 423 | Braunston and Welton Amanda Nilsson HA1980 | 30/11/2021 | |
| 426 | Long Buckby Roger Frederick Ashby HA1980 CA2006 | 04/01/2022 | |
| 427 | Potterspury Edmund Arnold Charity HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2022 | |
| 428 | Rothersthorpe, Milton Malsor Joanna Beesley and Francesca Robinson HA1980 | 27/05/2022 | |
| 429 | Bozeat John Brown HA1980 CA2006 | 13/06/2022 | |
| 430 | Hartwell Dr John Hereward Wake and Dr Anna Victoria Wake HA1980 CA2006 | 28/07/2022 | |
| 431 | Byfield Miss Alice Sharlot, Mrs Lucy Hicks & Mr John Thomas Sharlot HA1980 | 02/08/2022 | |
| 432 | Ashton, Roade, Quinton, Hartwell Merris Bros (Farmers Ltd) HA1980 | 07/09/22 | |
| 433W | Moulton Clayson Country Homes Limited HA1980 | 28/09/2022 | |
| 434W | Kislingbury Tom and Caroline Fromant HA1980 | 24/11/2022 | |
| 435W | Northampton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 23/11/2022 | |
| 436W | Northampton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 23/11/2022 | |
| 437W | Helmdon Ms Nicola Ann Dymond HA1980 | 08/03/2023 | |
| 439W | Badby, Charwelton, Everdon, Fawsley, Preston Capes, Fawsley Estate Settlement c/o HA1980 | 27/06/2023 | |
| 440W | Catesby, Hellidon Edward Thompson HA1980 | 20/06/2023 | |
| 441W | Stanford Trustees of the William Parker Will Trust HA1980 CA2006 | 11/12/2023 | |
| 442W | Stanford and Welford Parkers of Leicester Ltd HA1980 CA2006 | 11/12/2023 | |
| 443W | Boddington Rowan Caroline Adams HA1980 CA2006 | 03/10/2023 | |
| 445W | Chacombe, Overthorpe, Sulgrave Mr and Mrs W Lombard HA 1980 | 12/10/2023 | |
| 446W | Braunston and Welton Lord McGowan Will Trust HA1980 CA2006 | 05/12/2023 | |
| 447W | Nether Heyford West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 448W | Greens Norton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 449W | West Hunsbury West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 450W | Brackley West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 451W | Daventry West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 452W | Moulton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 453W | Moulton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 454W | Daventry West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 455W | Lilbourne West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 456W | Boughton West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 457W | Daventry West Northamptonshire Council HA1980 CA2006 | 08/02/2024 | |
| 458W | Helmdon PMF Eco-Farm Ltd HA1980 CA2006 | 11/02/2024 | |
| 459W | Castle Ashby, Denton, Yardley Hastings and Cogenhoe and Whiston The Most Honourable Spencer Douglas David Marquess of Northampton HA1980 CA2006 | 22/02/2024 | |
| 460W | Castle Ashby, Denton, Yardley Hastings and Cogenhoe and Whiston Castle Ashby Trust HA1980 CA2006 | 22/02/2024 | |
| 461W | Evenley and Brackley Lega Braga and Randal Hockey HA1980 | 20/02/2024 |
Landowner deposits register
Last updated 27 February 2024