A North Yorkshire village green which has no registered owner has been granted protected community status after being maintained by local residents for almost 60 years.
The village green at Great Broughton, near Stokesley, has been designated an asset of community value following an application by Great and Little Broughton Parish Council.
The decision comes despite the green already benefiting from planning protections, including its designation as local green space.
A report by North Yorkshire Council reveals that the land is not registered with HM Land Registry, meaning its legal ownership cannot currently be verified.
The parish council has maintained and managed the green, which occupies a prominent position on High Street, since around 1968.
In its application, the parish council described the land as an important community space which has been used by generations of villagers.
It stated: “The land is regularly used and appreciated by members and groups of the local community.”
The application highlighted the green’s role as a meeting place for residents and visitors, as well as its use for Christmas celebrations, lantern parades, carol singing and community litter-picking events.
It also provides seating, noticeboards, historical information displays and the village bus stop.
The parish council described the green as an “invaluable waiting area for students who are using local schools’ transport”.
It added that the historical information board “provides a fascinating historical perspective to our village for residents and visitors”.
The council’s application also highlighted the environmental benefits of the green, including its mature trees and contribution to wildlife and biodiversity.
The parish council has plans to further enhance the site with additional seating, bulb planting and wildlife boxes.
It stated: “The land requires no substantial alteration or investment to maintain its current function, it has always been and will continue to be, maintained by Great and Little Broughton Parish Council on behalf of the village community.”
The green, which covers approximately 1,569 square metres, has a long history as a public open space.
Historic maps dating back to 1880 identify the site as Town Green, while planning records show that its retention as public open space was secured through a condition attached to a nearby housing development.
It also lies within Great Broughton Conservation Area and was designated Local Green Space under the Hambleton Local Plan in 2022.
The parish council says it expects that designation to be retained in the forthcoming North Yorkshire Local Plan.
The newly granted Asset of Community Value status provides an additional safeguard by giving the community an opportunity to bid for the land if its owner ever seeks to sell it.
The designation does not prevent a sale or give villagers an automatic right to buy the green, but could provide up to six months for a community group to prepare a bid.
In its assessment, North Yorkshire Council concluded that the green makes a valuable contribution to village life.
The report stated: “The evidence demonstrates that the nominated land continues to serve a meaningful community function within Great Broughton.
“Although the site is relatively small and some recreational activities may be constrained by its size and location, it nevertheless provides an accessible and well-recognised space that supports informal social interaction, community gathering and local identity.”
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