• Analysis
Land Registry Free Access Plans at Risk from Landowner Opposition, Campaigners Warn
The government set out proposals on Tuesday to give the public free access for the first time to information on who owns England's land by lifting the Land Registry paywall, but campaigners warn landowners could scupper the plans.
What the proposals would open up
The government published its Land Registry free access plans on Tuesday, proposing to lift the paywall that currently sits on ownership records for England. Under the proposals, public sector bodies including government departments and local authorities would be able to consult the information free of charge, something never offered before.
- •A new free public dataset would identify the owners of significant land-holdings covering the vast majority of land in England and Wales, while excluding ordinary homeowners.
- •Councils would find it easier to identify sites for new homes, schools, hospitals, environmental assets, water infrastructure and public transport.
- •More sensitive information might go to investigators, civil society groups and regulators who can demonstrate a clear public interest.
The Land Registry is an arm's length body under the oversight of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, though it acts largely independently of the department.
Why the government wants transparency
Ministers argue that opening the register would help the UK build more houses, protect nature and improve strategic planning. A government spokesperson said that with at least 10% of land ownership in England currently unknown, greater land ownership transparency would let the country make smarter decisions on building the homes and infrastructure it needs.
"Greater transparency should not come at the expense of people's privacy, security and safety."
The spokesperson also framed the change as a gain on both sides, saying it would deliver a crucial win-win for the economy and nature.
Campaigners urge the public to respond
Guy Shrubsole, author of Who Owns England?, welcomed the plan as a bold but sensible proposal to open up the Land Registry, noting the question of who owns the land goes back to the Domesday Book and is entwined with wealth and power. He urged people to get involved in the consultation.
His warning was blunt: the country's biggest landowners may still try to scupper these plans at the last hurdle, and he said centuries of secrecy over who owns our land might finally be ending - but only if enough members of the public submit their views.
Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, also welcomed the move, saying our finite land supply is facing an unprecedented squeeze and that knowing who owns what helps us make the most of every hectare.
Landowners push back
The Country Land and Business Association, which represents landowners and rural businesses, warned of the possible impact of opening the register further. Its president, Gavin Lane, said making more personal information public could leave families vulnerable to fraud and other risks, especially as AI makes it easier to steal and misuse people's identities.
"Greater transparency should not come at the expense of people's privacy, security and safety."
Many landowners have been reluctant to have their holdings made public and are likely to fight the proposals. The report also notes internal rifts between the government and the Land Registry over how far to open the register to scrutiny.
The plans will be open to public consultation for eight weeks.
