Town or Village Green Inquiries
The Planning Inspectorate can make an Inspector available to a Commons Registration Authority (CRA) seeking to hold an inquiry into a town or village green application.
Under section 15 of the Commons Act 2006, anyone can apply to the relevant CRA to have land registered as a town or village green if it has been used by local people for recreation "as of right" (i.e. without permission, force or secrecy) for at least 20 years.
The CRA can decide to hold an inquiry. They are referred to as "non-statutory inquiries" because there is no statutory requirement forcing the CRA to hold an inquiry; it may simply be the fair and sensible way to deal with an application. The Inspector acts as a disinterested party looking into the facts of the case, and provides a report with a recommendation to the CRA.
The documents below set out in detail the procedures and responsibilities of the Inspectorate, the Inspector, and the CRA.
Memorandum of Understanding 
16kb
Guidance on Non-Statutory Inquiries - Roles and Responsibilities 21kb
