Countryside Act 1968

15 Areas of special scientific interest. E+W+S

(1) This section has effect as respects land F1 . . . which is or forms part of an area which in the opinion of the [F2 Nature Conservancy Council] (in this section referred to as “the Council”) is of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features.

(2) Where, for the purpose of conserving those flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features, it appears to the Council expedient F3 . . . to do so, the Council may enter into an agreement with the owners, lessees and occupiers of any such land [F4 (or of any [F5 other] land)] which imposes restrictions on the exercise of rights over land by the persons who can be bound by the agreement.

(3) Any such agreement—

(a) may provide for the carrying out on the land of such work and the doing thereon of such other things as may be expedient for the purposes of the agreement,

(b) may provide for any of the matters mentioned in paragraph (a) above being carried out, or for the cost thereof being defrayed, either by the owners or other persons, or by the Council, or partly in one way and partly in another, and

(c) may contain such other provisions as to the making of payments by the Council as may be specified in the agreement.

(4) Where section 79 of the M1 Law of Property Act 1925 (burden of covenant running with the land) applies to any such restrictions as are mentioned in subsection (2) of this section, the Council shall have the like rights as respects the enforcement of the restrictions as if the Council had at all material times been the absolute owner in possession of ascertained land adjacent to the land in respect of which the restriction is sought to be enforced, and capable of being benefited by the restriction, and the restriction had been expressed to be for the benefit of that adjacent land.

Section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (discharge or modification of restrictive covenants) shall not apply to such a restriction.

(5) Schedule 2 to the M2 Forestry Act 1967 (powers of tenants for life and other limited owners to enter into forestry dedication covenants or agreements) shall apply to any agreement made in pursuance of this section as it applies to such a covenant or agreement.

(6) This section shall apply to Scotland but there shall be substituted for subsection (4) the following subsection—

“(4) An agreement under this section may be recorded in the Register of Sasines, and if so recorded shall be enforceable at the instance of the Council against any person having an interest in the land and against any person deriving title from him:

Provided that such an agreement shall not be enforceable against any third party who shall have in good faith and for value acquired right (whether completed by infeftment or not) to his interest in the land prior to the agreement being recorded as aforesaid, or against any person deriving title from such third party.”

[F6 (6A) In this section references to “the Nature Conservancy Council” or “the Council” are references to [F7 English Nature], [F8 Scottish Natural Heritage] or the Council, according as the land in question in England, Scotland or Wales]

(7) The Act of 1949 shall have effect as if this section were included in Part III of that Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed by Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69, SIF 4:5), Sch. 17 Pt. I

F2 Words substituted by Nature Conservancy Council Act 1973 (c. 54, SIF 46:1), Sch. 1 para. 9

F3 Words in s. 15(2) repealed (1.4.1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), ss. 132, 162(2), Sch. 9 para. 4(2)(a), Sch. 16 Pt. VI; S.I. 1991/685, art. 3.

F4 Words in s. 15(2) inserted (1.4.1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 132, Sch. 9 para. 4(2)(a); S.I. 1991/685, art. 3.

F5 Word in s. 15(2) substituted (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 75(3), 103(2)

F6 S. 15(6A) inserted (1.4.1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 132, Sch. 9 para. 4(2)(b); S.I. 1991/685, art. 3.

F7 Words in s. 15(6A) substituted (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 73(4), 103(2), Sch. 8 para. 1(c)(i)

F8 Words in s. 15(6A) substituted (1.4.1992) by Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 28), s. 4(6), Sch. 2 para. 3; S.I. 1991/2633, art. 4.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 15 amended (30.1.2001) by 1981 c. 69, s. 28J(13) (as substituted (30.1.2001) for s. 28 by 2000 c. 37, ss. 75(1), 103(2), Sch. 9 para. 1 (with Sch. 11 paras. 1-17, 20))

Marginal Citations

M1 1925 c. 20.

M2 1967 c. 10.