Rural or non-developable land as a component of the Municipal Land Patrimony: special reference to rural townships

Abstract

This study attempts to analyze the evolution of rural or non-developable land in Spain with regard to its mandatory pertenence to the Municipal Land Patrimony (equivalent to the British Community Land). It also inquires into the reasons why today, in contrast with the prevalent view when the Municipal Land Patrimony was initially established by the Land Act of 1956, lawmakers have stopped considering the aforementioned land types a valuable mean to achieve the proper objectives of the institution. The importance of this study increases if we take into account the existence of rural townships which, though located on non-developable land, effectively contain population settlements to whom services are provided and where it is perfectly possible to execute the proper goals of the institution.