Closing and diverting paths

It is illegal to close or divert a public path without the necessary legal consents being obtained in advance.

 

It is possible for contractors and landowners to temporarily divert paths for between one day and six months to allow for site works to be carried out safely. However, we would always encourage an applicant to try and work around a path if possible.

 

It is also possible to temporarily close paths for the same reason, if there is nowhere suitable to divert the path to. Again, it is preferable for the path to be kept open if at all possible, not least because you may have problems securing the site if you try to exclude the public completely.

 

It is also possible to permanently divert paths to allow building and certain other developments to take place, to improve the path network for users and to assist in efficient management of the land in question, provided that you have somewhere suitable to divert the path to.

 

It is also possible to permanently close paths in very limited circumstances, although this is very rare.

 

Temporary diversions and closures cost the applicant between £500 and £1,800 and permanent diversions are likely to cost the applicant around £4,000.

 

Please contact us for further details of costs and procedures.