LAND OWNERSHIP AND PLANNING
Before you even enter a site, you need to determine who owns it. Otherwise, you could be trespassing and exposing yourself or others to danger.
How do I find out who owns the land?
The Land Registry is a good place to start to find out who owns the site, though you may have to pay a small fee for this service. Making inquiries locally or asking Swansea Council or Neath Port Talbot Council may also help to identify the land owner.
The Community Land Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru) supports community groups, local authorities and landowners, enabling local people to access, own and improve green spaces in their area. This gives community green space projects in Wales free access to support and advice on issues such as finding land, leases and planning permissions. It demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to driving up the quality of local green space and supporting communities to identify and take control of green spaces. Email Lucie Taylor on [email protected] if your green space project would like some advice or support with accessing land.
Negotiating with the land owner
Once you have identified the land owners, you can approach them with the ideas. Prior to do this, it may be worth considering what would be the benefit to the landowner to allow you to use the site.
Potential benefits could be:
Speaking to the experts
To get the best results, involve experienced personnel to help you present your green space idea in the best light. There are suggested organisations that may help you in your discussions on the Resources page.
Planning Permission
As well as getting the landowner's agreement to use the site, depending on what you want to do, you may also need to have planning permission from the Council. If in doubt, contact their planning department via the links at the top of this page.
The Land Registry is a good place to start to find out who owns the site, though you may have to pay a small fee for this service. Making inquiries locally or asking Swansea Council or Neath Port Talbot Council may also help to identify the land owner.
The Community Land Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru) supports community groups, local authorities and landowners, enabling local people to access, own and improve green spaces in their area. This gives community green space projects in Wales free access to support and advice on issues such as finding land, leases and planning permissions. It demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to driving up the quality of local green space and supporting communities to identify and take control of green spaces. Email Lucie Taylor on [email protected] if your green space project would like some advice or support with accessing land.
Negotiating with the land owner
Once you have identified the land owners, you can approach them with the ideas. Prior to do this, it may be worth considering what would be the benefit to the landowner to allow you to use the site.
Potential benefits could be:
- income in the form of rent
- improvements to the site, thus adding value
- less vandalism/anti-social behaviour
- helping the local community
- providing a habitat for wildlife
- creating a business opportunity
Speaking to the experts
To get the best results, involve experienced personnel to help you present your green space idea in the best light. There are suggested organisations that may help you in your discussions on the Resources page.
Planning Permission
As well as getting the landowner's agreement to use the site, depending on what you want to do, you may also need to have planning permission from the Council. If in doubt, contact their planning department via the links at the top of this page.