The winners of the 19th annual Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence have been announced, with councils up and down the country recognised across eight separate categories. This year also saw the inclusion of the first Outstanding Contribution award, launched in memory of long-standing Land Data CEO Jan Boothroyd, who passed away in 2024.
The awards celebrate the work and achievements of 64 Local Land Charges departments in England and Wales. This year saw seven of the 10 winners claim the top spot for the very first time, either as teams or individuals.
Fiona Barron, Land Data’s chief executive, said: “This year’s winners and finalists reflect the very best of the local land charges community. Their commitment to accuracy, service quality and continuous improvement is clear to see.
“Behind the scenes, these teams are finding smarter ways of working, improving their data, processes, and the service they offer conveyancers. It’s a role that often goes unnoticed, but the impact is significant. These awards are a chance to recognise the dedication and expertise of these individuals and the essential role they play in maintaining authoritative data for the future.”
The awards are supported by the Local Land Charges Institute, SearchFlow, The Mining Remediation Authority, HM Land Registry, Land Data and the National Land Information Service (NLIS). They are anonymously judged by a panel of industry experts from the supporting organisations, as well as the Law Society.
Winners were announced at the 2026 Virtual Local Land Charges Training & Development Event last month. They are:
Boothroyd Award for Outstanding Contribution: Elaine Munns, West Sussex County Council
Customer Satisfaction Award for Local Authority Searches:
- District Councils: Winner – Arun District Council; Highly commended – Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
- Metropolitan District Councils: Winner – Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council; Highly commended – Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
- London Borough Councils: Winner – Barnet London Borough Council; Highly Commended – Hillingdon London Borough Council
- Unitary Councils: Winner – Somerset Council East Team
Local Land Authority Searches Team of the Year: Winner – Hillingdon London Borough Council; Highly commended – Greater Cambridge Planning Service
Best Performing Search Team Member: Winner – Melanie Fry from Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council; Highly commended – Marta Yeo from Somerset Council
Best Performing NLIS Level 2 Local Land Charges Department: Winner – Spelthorne Borough Council; Highly commended: Rutland Borough Council
Best Performing NLIS Level 3 Local Land Charges Department: Winner – Brighton & Hove Council; Highly commended – Sutton London Borough Council
Best Performing Migrated Local Authority: Winner – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council; Highly commended: West Suffolk Council
The Unsung Hero Award: Winner – Gemma Garden from Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council; Highly commended – Jacqui Ryan from Runnymede Borough Council
