LegalizeReform history
Land Drainage Act 1991
100 versions
· 1991-07-25
2026-03-11
Land Drainage Act 1991
2026-03-04
Land Drainage Act 1991
2026-02-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2026-01-08
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-11-27
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-11-05
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-10-22
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-10-12
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-08-14
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-07-28
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-07-11
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-06-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-05-31
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-05-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-02-27
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-02-17
Land Drainage Act 1991
2025-02-15
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-10-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-10-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-09-27
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-08-03
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-05-09
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-04-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-04-11
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-03-28
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-03-13
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-02-09
Land Drainage Act 1991
2024-02-07
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-10-11
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-09-07
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-08-04
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-08-03
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-08-02
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-07-27
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-07-18
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-03-10
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-02-07
Land Drainage Act 1991
2023-01-11
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-12-07
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-11-04
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-11-03
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-09-08
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-09-02
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-06-30
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-06-06
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-06-02
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-04-28
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-03-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-03-10
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-03-05
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-01-09
Land Drainage Act 1991
2022-01-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2021-12-22
Land Drainage Act 1991
2021-02-19
Land Drainage Act 1991
2021-01-19
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-12-31
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-10-29
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-10-15
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-07-22
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-05-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-05-21
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-03-04
Land Drainage Act 1991
2020-02-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2019-10-30
Land Drainage Act 1991
2019-10-25
Land Drainage Act 1991
2019-03-13
Land Drainage Act 1991
2018-08-24
Land Drainage Act 1991
2018-04-18
Land Drainage Act 1991
2017-12-22
Land Drainage Act 1991
2017-12-19
Land Drainage Act 1991
2017-12-08
Land Drainage Act 1991
2017-09-05
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-11-24
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-09-27
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-09-07
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-08-19
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-08-02
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-06-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2016-05-21
Land Drainage Act 1991
2015-05-26
Land Drainage Act 1991
2015-04-21
Land Drainage Act 1991
2014-12-31
Land Drainage Act 1991
2014-12-15
Land Drainage Act 1991
2014-10-29
Land Drainage Act 1991
2014-07-14
Land Drainage Act 1991
2013-11-06
Land Drainage Act 1991
2013-08-22
Land Drainage Act 1991
2013-07-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
Changes on 2013-07-01
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@
- (b) to prevent the improvement of the drainage of any land,
the Agricultural Land Tribunal, on the application of the owner or occupier of the land, may if they think fit make an order requiring the person or persons named in the order to carry out such remedial work as may be specified in the order.
the appropriate tribunal, on the application of the owner or occupier of the land, may if they think fit make an order requiring the person or persons named in the order to carry out such remedial work as may be specified in the order.
- (2) An order under this section with respect to a ditch may name—
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@
- (b) subject to subsection (4) below, require all those persons jointly to carry out the whole of that work.
- (4) Where the Agricultural Land Tribunal make an order requiring persons jointly to carry out any work, the Tribunal, without prejudice to those persons’ joint liability, may, if they think fit, specify in the order the proportions in which those persons are to contribute to the cost of doing so.
- (4) Where the appropriate tribunal make an order requiring persons jointly to carry out any work, the Tribunal, without prejudice to those persons’ joint liability, may, if they think fit, specify in the order the proportions in which those persons are to contribute to the cost of doing so.
- (5) In this section—
@@ -818,6 +818,12 @@
- (b) for protecting it.
- (6) For the purposes of this section, “appropriate tribunal” means—
- (a) where either the land or the ditch is in England, the First-tier Tribunal; and
- (b) where either the land or the ditch is in Wales, the Agricultural Land Tribunal.
#### Effect of order under section 28
##### 29
@@ -870,7 +876,7 @@
- (c) the alteration or removal of any drainage work in connection with such a ditch,
the Agricultural Land Tribunal, on the application of the owner or occupier of the first-mentioned land, may if they think fit make an order under this section.
theappropriate tribunal, on the application of the owner or occupier of the first-mentioned land, may if they think fit make an order under this section.
- (2) An order under this section is an order authorising the applicant for the order—
@@ -882,11 +888,17 @@
- (4) In this section “*ditch*” has the same meaning as in section 28 above.
- (5) For the purposes of subsection (1), “appropriate tribunal” means—
- (a) where the land is in England, the First-tier Tribunal; and
- (b) where the land is in Wales, the Agricultural Land Tribunal.
#### Composition and incidental powers of Agricultural Land Tribunal
##### 31
- (1) The Lord Chancellor shall draw up for each Agricultural Land Tribunal, and from time to time revise, a panel of persons appearing to him to be experienced in matters relating to the drainage of land.
- (1) The Lord Chancellor shall draw up for the Agricultural Land Tribunal, and from time to time revise, a panel of persons appearing to him to be experienced in matters relating to the drainage of land.
- (1A) Before drawing up, or revising, a panel under subsection (1), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice.
@@ -894,7 +906,7 @@
- (3) Paragraph 16A of Schedule 9 to the Agriculture Act 1947 (which provides for the exercise of the power of making nominations if the chairman is prevented from doing so) shall apply to nominations under this section.
- (4) For the purpose of deciding any application under section 28 or 30 of this Act the Agricultural Land Tribunal may authorise any of its members or any other person to enter and inspect any land.
- (4) For the purpose of deciding any application under section 28 or 30 of this Act the appropriate tribunal (within the meaning of that section) may authorise any of its members or any other person to enter and inspect any land.
- (5) Subsections (3) to (6) of section 29 above shall apply in relation to the power conferred by virtue of subsection (4) above as they apply in relation to the powers conferred by virtue of that section.
@@ -3028,7 +3040,7 @@
| Sch 5 | 1976 Sch 4 paras 2–11; 1989 Sch 15 para 41; TFO: [SI 1978/272](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1978/272) Sch 3 para 7(4). |
| Sch 6 | 1976 s. 112; [1984 (c. 12)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/12) Sch 4 para 66(1); [1984 (c. 32)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/32) Sch 6 para 12; [1986 (c. 31)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/31) Sch 2 para 5; [1986 (c. 44)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/44) Sch 7 para 25; [1987 (c. 3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1987/3) Sch 1 para 32; 1989 Sch 15 para 37; 1989(EA) Sch 16 para 21. |
#### Review of boundaries of internal drainage districts.
#### Internal drainage districts and boards.
## Part IVA — Duties with respect to the environment and recreation
@@ -3612,7 +3624,7 @@
[^key-21e3376a3e1da98fc92b1e670048dcfc]: S. 31(1A) inserted (3.4.2006) by [Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4) , [s. 148(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/section/148/1) , [Sch. 4 para. 222(2)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/schedule/4/paragraph/222/2) ; [S.I. 2006/1014](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014) , [art. 2(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/article/2/a) , [Sch. 1 para. 11(u)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/schedule/1/paragraph/11/u)
[^key-7d2c98cb9b060159f3fcd1ba55c48f28]: [S. 31(6)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/31/6) inserted (3.4.2006) by [Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4), [s. 148(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/section/148/1), [Sch. 4 para. 222(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/schedule/4/paragraph/222/3); [S.I. 2006/1014](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014), [art. 2(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/article/2/a), [Sch. 1 para. 11(u)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/schedule/1/paragraph/11/u)
[^key-7d2c98cb9b060159f3fcd1ba55c48f28]: S. 31(6) inserted (3.4.2006) by [Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4), [s. 148(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/section/148/1), [Sch. 4 para. 222(3)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/schedule/4/paragraph/222/3); [S.I. 2006/1014](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014), [art. 2(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/article/2/a), [Sch. 1 para. 11(u)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1014/schedule/1/paragraph/11/u)
[^key-fbabe14a30007834036b39bdbc468e66]: [Sch. 1 para. 9](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/schedule/1/paragraph/9) omitted (29.6.2006) by virtue of [Enterprise Act 2002 (Disqualification from Office: General) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1722)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1722), [art. 1(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1722/article/1/1), [Sch. 1 para. 2](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1722/schedule/1/paragraph/2)
@@ -3836,6 +3848,22 @@
[^key-9118e7dbccae1f7f0b006557b9d31eb2]: S. 23(6) excluded (9.4.2013) by [The Hinkley Point C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/648)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648), [arts. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/1), [47(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/47/1) (with [arts. 48](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/48), [68](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/68), [79](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/79), [83](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/648/article/83))
[^key-8fdce0dbcf06ebab3abb44feb829b94a]: [S. 28(6)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/28/6) inserted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 213(b)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/213/b) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-aa9254242c8df1e70bfc1abd11a64aad]: Words in [s. 28(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/28/1) substituted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 213(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/213/a) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-a191de387c5a1d37d57620370a7446e3]: Words in [s. 28(4)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/28/4) substituted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 213(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/213/a) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-7552a8d079b2a49bc17e6907bbeba4b5]: [S. 30(5)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/30/5) inserted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 214(b)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/214/b) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-10b2de3ea5198a7a3fedfcf33c90f7cd]: Words in [s. 30(1)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/section/30/1) substituted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 214(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/214/a) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-66ab517e7554a22daead81142b86b3a1]: Word in s. 31(1) substituted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 215(b)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/215/b) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-376143aaefbc81dfbe4699a52e244ebc]: Words in s. 31(4) substituted (1.7.2013) by [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 215(c)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/215/c) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
[^key-e4226f7029bce67ba9abcdb78d71d3c6]: Words in s. 31 heading omitted (1.7.2013) by virtue of [The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1036)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036), [art. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/article/1), [Sch. 1 para. 215(a)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/1/paragraph/215/a) (with [Sch. 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1036/schedule/3))
#### Duties in relation to local authorities.
*Notes:*
@@ -3952,24 +3980,24 @@
*Notes:*
#### Exercise of local authority powers under sections 14 and 15.
#### Drainage of small areas.
#### Powers to require works for maintaining flow of watercourse.
#### Raising of the expenses of internal drainage boards.
#### Land drainage expenses of local authorities.
#### Duties in relation to local authorities.
#### Codes of practice.
#### Powers of internal drainage boards and local authorities to acquire land.
#### Power of navigation authorities etc to divert sewers.
#### Application to Crown.
#### Disposal of spoil by boards and local authorities.
#### Supervision of local authority powers under sections 14 to 16.
#### Contraventions of prohibition on obstructions etc.
#### Powers to vary navigation rights.
#### Power of local authority to contribute to expenses of drainage works.
#### Duties in relation to drainage boards.
#### Ministerial directions to drainage boards.
#### Powers of internal drainage boards and local authorities to facilitate spray irrigation.
#### Protection for particular undertakings and savings in respect of works.
#### Disputes as to whether works connected with main river.
*Notes:*
2013-04-09
Land Drainage Act 1991
2013-04-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2012-09-26
Land Drainage Act 1991
2011-10-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2011-07-19
Land Drainage Act 1991
2011-04-06
Land Drainage Act 1991
2011-02-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2010-10-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2010-09-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2009-10-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
2009-06-09
Land Drainage Act 1991
2009-06-01
Land Drainage Act 1991
original version
Text at this date