The Definitive Map and Statement is the legal record for Public Rights of Way. The Definitive Statement is the counterpart of the Definitive Map that may contain details such the position and width of a path.
The Definitive Map
The presence of a path on the Definitive Map is conclusive proof of its existence in law. This map is a working copy of the Definitive Map and shows all known Public Rights of Way. It may be used for guidance only and it should not be relied upon for legal purposes.
Making changes to the Definitive Map
The map can only be changed by legal order. You can apply to us to change the definitive map and statement. This could be to add a path, delete a path or change the status of a Public Right of Way shown on it.
A Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) (link to S31 page) can be made under provisions set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Before making an application, please follow the initial checking process first on our Managing the Public Rights of Way webpage.
Strong evidence will be required to support the application, which could include historical information such as maps or title plans, or evidence that a route has been used uninterrupted for more than 20 years.
Definitive Map 2031 ‘cut-off date’ for historic paths
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) provisionally introduced the 1st January 2031 as the cut-off date for the recording of historic rights of way.
The aim of the cut-off is to prevent any claims to add a Right of Way to the Definitive Map based solely on evidence pre 1949. Therefore at the cut-off deadline, certain routes would be extinguished if not recorded on the Definitive Map by then.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has recently announced that they have implemented a five year extension to 1st January 2031 to allow more time for paths to be identified and added to the Public Rights of Way network. They are also providing the ‘right to apply’ for landowners to divert or extinguish rights of way in certain circumstances, and will issue guidance for these measures as soon as practically possible.