Thousands of miles of footpaths that faced being lost forever could now be saved after the government vowed to end a deadline for all mapping rights in England.
People were given until 2031 to add all historic but unrecorded public roads and bridges to the official “straight map” of the country.
The government said scrapping the cut-off date would give councils time to assess whether routes meet requirements.
Walking campaigners have welcomed the announcement but the National Farmers Union (NFU) said removing the deadline would mean the claims would “continue to disrupt many farm businesses for years to come”.
Legislation in 1949 required local authorities to draw up a “certainty map” showing public rights in their area.
But the documents are kept under constant review, meaning anyone with adequate evidence can apply to be included.
It is estimated that there are over 40,000 miles of rights of way in England that are not officially registered.
The previous Conservative government It also planned to abolish the cut-off date for registration of historical routes. But later decided to extend it from 2026 to 2031, saying it would provide more certainty for landlords, councils and consumers.
But the Local Government Association said financial pressures had left councils with limited resources to process applications, making the 2031 deadline “a tall order unlikely to be met”.
BBC research found that as of March this year, around 8,000 requests for routes to be added to the official map were being processed.
Once a right of way is established, the local authority and landowner are legally responsible for maintaining it.
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Space Society, said if routes were not recorded, developers could build on them or landowners could plant crops.
“We need to put these trails on the map so we know where they are, so we can use and enjoy them,” he said.
“The 2031 cut-off was designed to prevent us from doing that and would have meant that all those public routes would have been lost.”
The government plans to cancel the cut-off date when parliamentary time permits.
However, NFU vice-president David Axwood said there was a need to balance public access with productive farming.
“This current plan only maintains an old focus on routes that have not been used for centuries,” he said.
“Instead, the focus should be on a future-proof network that encourages responsible use, respects working farms, and promotes safety in accordance with the Countryside Code.”
He added that the government’s announcement did not clearly explain how the backlog of applications would be cleared, “continuing to put pressure on local authorities”.
Ross Maloney, chief executive of the Ramblers charity, said the announcement ended “threats to thousands of miles of historic rights in England”.
“These pathways are not only an integral part of our shared heritage, but they will play an important role in helping people live healthier, happier lives in the future,” he added.
Minister for Accessibility Baroness Hyman said: “Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, but too many people across the country do not have access to the great outdoors.
“These well-trodden paths, many of which have existed for hundreds of years, are part of our shared heritage and it is important that we bring forward these measures to protect their long-term future”.