Campaigners warn landowners could scupper plans for free land registry access

Plans for public access

The government proposes lifting the paywall on information about land ownership. A new free dataset would identify the owners of significant land-holdings, covering most land in England and Wales, but not ordinary homeowners.

Investigators, civil society groups and regulators could potentially see more sensitive information if they demonstrate a clear public interest. The plan aims to make land ownership easier to examine.

Concerns over the proposal

Campaigners say the plans could be scuppered by landowners before they are completed. They have urged the public to respond to a consultation. There have also been internal disagreements between the government and the Land Registry over how far its records should be opened to scrutiny. The registry is an arm’s-length body overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, but operates largely independently.

Campaigners back transparency

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said land was under unprecedented pressure. He said knowing who owns it could help people make better use of it for homes, infrastructure, food and nature’s recovery.

Privacy and security risks

Lane warned that making more personal information public could leave families exposed to fraud and other risks. The warning cited the potential for AI to make identity theft and misuse easier. Lane said greater transparency should not come at the expense of privacy, security and safety.