Campaigners Warn Landowners Could Derail Plan for Free Land Registry Access

Campaigners have warned that landowners could undermine government plans to give the public free access, for the first time, to information on who owns England's land.

The government set out its proposals on Tuesday to remove the paywall on the Land Registry. It argues that greater openness would help the UK build more homes, protect nature and improve strategic planning. The proposals will go to public consultation for eight weeks.

The Guardian has previously reported internal disagreements between the government and the Land Registry over how far the body should be opened to scrutiny. The Registry is an arm's length body that falls under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government but operates largely independently.

Under the plans, public sector bodies such as government departments and local authorities would be able to use the data free of charge for the first time. This should help councils find sites for new homes, schools, hospitals, environmental assets, water infrastructure and public transport.

A new free public dataset would name the owners of significant land-holdings, covering the vast majority of land in England and Wales. Ordinary homeowners would be excluded. Investigators, civil society groups and regulators who can show a clear public interest might also be given access to more sensitive information.

A government spokesperson said the aim was to fill gaps in knowledge about who really owns land in England, where at least 10% is currently unknown. The spokesperson said that improving land transparency would support smarter decisions on housing and infrastructure, and deliver "a crucial win-win for the economy and nature".

Guy Shrubsole, author of Who Owns England?, called the plan "bold but sensible" and noted that the question of land ownership goes back to the Domesday Book and has always been tied to wealth and power. He warned that the country's biggest landowners "may still try to scupper these plans at the last hurdle", and urged the public to respond to the consultation. "Centuries of secrecy over who owns our land might finally be coming to an end," he said, "but only if enough members of the public respond."

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, also welcomed the move. He said the supply of land is facing an unprecedented squeeze, and that knowing who owns what would help make the most of every hectare, whether for homes, infrastructure, food or nature's recovery.

The Country Land and Business Association, which represents landowners and rural businesses, struck a more cautious note. Its president, Gavin Lane, warned that making more personal information public could leave families open to fraud and other risks, particularly as AI makes it easier to steal and misuse identities. "Greater transparency should not come at the expense of people's privacy, security and safety," he said.

Many landowners have been reluctant to see their holdings made public and are expected to contest the proposals.