The Common Good register

We own property that has Common Good status. Property can be Common Good if it was bought by or gifted to a former Burgh. In South Lanarkshire this includes land, buildings and works of public art.

Property can be Common Good if it was gifted to or acquired by the Burgh on or before 15 May 1975 and it meets these criteria:

• it has been used by the general public for a long time
• it was dedicated for a specific public purpose
• the title conditions ensuring public use were agreed in the original charter

There can be other factors that decide if a property is Common Good or not, such as statutory reasons for owning a property, how it was acquired or if it is held by a separate trust.

Common Good status means that restrictions apply on what can be done with the property. Restrictions on leasing or selling some Common Good assets exist but these can be altered by obtaining approval from the Courts. Proceeds from leasing or selling these assets are retained in the Common Good fund.

Disposal or change of use of Common Good assets

Community groups can apply to the Council for any common good land or buildings they feel they could make better use of. They can request ownership, lease or other rights.  Before making a decision on a request, the Council must carry out a consultation with the community and have regard to any representations made.

View the Common Good Asset consultations on the Planning Portal where you can view the consultation notices and can make representations. Search for ‘Common Good Asset’ in the ‘Application Type’ drop-down list.