Welcome

ACRA, the Association of Commons Registration Authorities, Limited was incorporated in February 2006. Until July 2008 it was known as The Commons and Greens Registration and Management Association (CGRMA).

The aim of ACRA is to support Commons Registration Officers and staff whose work includes all aspects of common land and town and village greens. The ACRA aims to promote good practice and provide effective communication in order to keep members informed of matters both political and technical which affect the registration of common land and town and village green, in particular the implementation of the Commons Act 2006.

Form CA16 - Application Form for deposits under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 and section 15A(1) (Town or Village Greens) of the Commons Act 2006 (N.B. England only)

Defra's Guidance for completing Form CA16 (N.B. England only)

Please Note: Schedule 1A of the Commons Act 2006 has been amended by both the Commons (Town and Village Greens) (Trigger and Terminating Events) Order 2014 (No.257) and the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Permission in Principle etc) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2017 (No.276)

Commons Registration Authorities should, and in most cases must:

  • Keep registers (maps and sheets) of common land and town and village greens (the registers);
  • Allow public inspection of the registers and related documents, free of charge;
  • Provide offical copies of the registers and related documents, for which a fee may be charged;
  • Provide for replies to CON29 search enquiries concerning the registers;
  • Process applications seeking to amend the registers in a timely manner;
  • Process section 15A(1) applications (Form CA16) as a matter of urgency, as any representations must be made within 12 months of deposit of the application with the authority;
  • Maintain a website to:
    • publish Notices concerning applications seeking to amend the registers;
    • publish Decisions concerning applications seeking to amend the registers, with reasons for the decision;
    • publish fees and any proposed changes to those fees;
    • publish commons registration authority contact details; and
  • Maintain and use an e-mail list of all those wishing to be informed of any Notices concerning applications seeking to amend the registers.

For an overview of common land and commoning in England, please visit: www.foundationforcommonland.org.uk 

For Local Authorities wishing to join the Association and gain the benefits of membership please contact acra@glos.ac.uk for further details