UK Government Withholds Timeline for Land Registry Data Access

The British government has declined to provide a specific timeline for lifting the paywall on land ownership data in England and Wales. This data currently obscures the ownership of large plots of land, a situation environmental campaigners argue hinders efforts to address river pollution and accelerate home building.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) previously pledged to provide free spatial land ownership data for larger properties, excluding most residential homeowners. This commitment followed a March announcement by former environment secretary Emma Reynolds, who stated the paywall would be partly lifted to increase landowner accountability for peatlands and river catchments. However, Defra has not yet specified the format or the release date for this information.

HM Land Registry, which operates under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, maintains that plans are in the early stages and require further consultation. Campaigners are now urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to integrate this land ownership transparency into his broader localism agenda.