Government consultation on land ownership and control

We’re keen to hear members’ views on how public data on land ownership and control could be improved.

The government is conducting a consultation (closing 30 October) on improving transparency in land ownership and control.

We know that getting to the bottom of who owns what, whether there are controlling interests other than the landowner, and securing useful contact details can be a challenge for members. That’s why we have long called for greater transparency on the likes of land option agreements.

The first question posed by the consultation is “do you think there is a public interest in collating and publishing additional data on contractual controls over land?” We will make a case for the need for transparency in securing land for much-needed affordable homes.

We would like members’ views on this point to inform our response, and would encourage members to respond similarly to the government.

We’d also be interested in members’ thoughts on Questions 23 and 24, which ask about the impact of the current lack of transparency, and about the effect on public trust in planning and development processes.

If you’d like to know more about our thoughts on this consultation, or to contribute your own, please contact Duncan.Neish@housing.org.uk.