Landowners threaten to block free UK land registry access

Major UK landowners are expected to push back against government plans to remove the paywall on the Land Registry, campaigners warned on Tuesday. The government launched an eight-week public consultation on the proposals that day. The measure would allow the public to access ownership records for free for the first time.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government argues that open access will streamline housing development and environmental protection. Currently, public sector bodies such as local councils must pay fees to retrieve specific land data. The new system would make this information available at no cost to government departments and local authorities.

A new free dataset would identify the owners of large landholdings across England and Wales. This list would cover the majority of the land but exclude individual homeowners. More detailed records, including sensitive personal data, could be released to investigators and regulators who can prove a clear public interest.

Guy Shrubsole, author of Who Owns England?, described the proposal as bold and sensible. He noted that questions about land ownership have been tied to wealth and power since the Domesday Book. Shrubsole urged the public to submit comments during the consultation period. He warned that the largest landowners might try to stop the plans at the final stage.

Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, expressed concern over privacy. Lane represents rural businesses and landowners. He stated that making more personal information public could leave families vulnerable to fraud. He highlighted that artificial intelligence tools make it easier to steal and misuse identities. Lane argued that transparency should not compromise security or safety.

The government stated that at least 10% of land ownership in England is currently unknown. A spokesperson said that driving up transparency would help the economy and nature. Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, supported the move. He said that knowing who owns what helps maximize the use of every hectare for homes, infrastructure, or food production.

The Land Registry operates as an arm's length body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Internal disagreements exist between the ministry and the registry regarding the level of public scrutiny. Shrubsole said that centuries of secrecy over land ownership may end only if enough members of the public respond to the consultation.