UK land registry access plans face landowner pushback

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UK land registry access plans

Highlights

The UK government proposes lifting the Land Registry paywall to offer free access to land ownership data for public sector bodies in England and Wales.
A new public dataset would disclose owners of significant landholdings while excluding ordinary homeowners, with sensitive information available to certain groups demonstrating public interest.
Landowners and the Country Land and Business Association oppose expanded data access, citing privacy and fraud concerns amid reported internal government tensions over transparency.

Consultation opens on land data access

As reported by The Guardian, the government sets out proposals on Tuesday to lift the Land Registry paywall and widen access to information on who owns land in England and Wales. Ministers argue the change would support housebuilding, nature protection and strategic planning, while allowing public sector bodies such as government departments and local authorities to use the data free of charge for the first time.

The proposed changes include a new free public dataset identifying owners of significant landholdings across the vast majority of land in England and Wales, while excluding ordinary homeowners. More sensitive information could also be made available to investigators, civil society groups and regulators that can show a clear public interest.

A government spokesperson says the reform is intended to address gaps in land ownership records, with at least 10% currently unknown. The spokesperson says greater land transparency can help officials make better decisions on homes and infrastructure while also benefiting the economy and nature.

Privacy concerns and likely opposition

Campaigners back the proposal and say it could help authorities and communities use limited land more effectively for housing, schools, hospitals, transport, water infrastructure and environmental recovery. Guy Shrubsole, author of Who Owns England?, says the plan could finally reveal ownership of most land in England and Wales, but warns that the country's biggest landowners may still try to stop it before implementation.

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, says easier access to ownership data would help balance competing demands on finite land supply. But Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, which represents landowners and rural businesses, says wider publication of personal information could expose families to fraud and other risks, especially as AI makes identity misuse easier.

The debate comes amid reported internal tensions over how far Land Registry data should be opened to scrutiny. With landowners historically resistant to greater disclosure, the outcome of the consultation is likely to shape how much ownership transparency the government can deliver in practice.

In our earlier article on Lenovo’s Hybrid AI strategy and its CES 2027 Tech World keynote, we outlined how the company plans to showcase AI across consumer devices and enterprise infrastructure while keeping privacy, security, and data control central to adoption. We also noted Lenovo’s recent revenue growth and its focus on helping users and businesses turn data into practical value without losing control over sensitive information.

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