Land Data chief executive Fiona Barron explains how the next generation National Land Information Service (NLIS) is incorporating data principles into the build, and why it’s important for conveyancers and property professionals.
As the Next Gen NLIS programme reaches another major milestone, with the initial platform build complete and user testing under way, Land Data has also established the foundations of the new Land Data Trust Framework. But what exactly is a trust framework, and why is it such an important part of Next Gen NLIS and the future of property data?
For people hearing the term for the first time, there is an assumption a trust framework is a piece of technology. But it’s much broader than that. It brings together the rules, protocols, standards and governance functions that enable secure, data exchange between trusted organisations.
At Land Data, we’re building this into Next Gen NLIS because we want everyone using the platform to have confidence that organisations are certified, that there is clear accountability and provenance for the data being shared, and that all participants are operating to agreed standards and rules.
Fragmented systems
The property market relies on information flowing between a wide range of organisations. Local authorities, HM Land Registry, Mining Remediation Authority, drainage and water companies, search providers, conveyancers, lenders and PropTech companies all have a role in the home buying and selling process.
Yet data is often exchanged through fragmented systems and processes, creating duplication, inefficiencies and uncertainty around provenance. Every time information is re-keyed, duplicated or verified, additional cost and risk are introduced into the process.
At the same time, government is encouraging greater digitalisation, interoperability and data sharing across sectors. As the property market evolves, there is a growing expectation that organisations should be able to exchange trusted information in a secure and consistent way. A trust framework provides the governance and assurance needed to make that possible.
Confidence in data
It is important to understand that the Land Data Trust Framework and Next Gen NLIS perform different but complementary roles. Next Gen NLIS is the platform which enables data exchange. The Land Data Trust Framework provides the governance and assurance layer that underpins that exchange. It verifies participants and organisations, enables secure machine-to-machine data sharing and establishes common standards and rules across the ecosystem.
Next Gen NLIS will have a level of trust, assurance and interoperability that reflects the needs of today’s property market.
What difference will this make for organisations using property data day-to-day? For data providers, particularly local authorities and other authoritative data custodians, the trust framework will provide greater confidence and consistency around how their data is accessed and used. It helps protect the provenance and integrity of their information while reducing operational friction.
For data consumers, including search providers, conveyancers, lenders and PropTech organisations, it provides greater confidence in the quality, origin and trustworthiness of the data they rely upon. That confidence becomes increasingly important as more services become automated and more organisations seek to integrate directly with trusted data sources.
Extended benefits
For the wider market the benefits extend beyond the Next Gen NLIS platform itself. Trusted data exchange can reduce duplication and inefficiency, improve confidence in information and create the conditions for greater innovation across the sector. Importantly, it also supports future Smart Data initiatives by providing a framework through which trusted organisations can exchange information more effectively.
As the market continues to digitise, the ability to share authoritative data securely and consistently will become increasingly important. Interoperability and common standards will be fundamental.
The future property market will depend on systems being able to communicate effectively with one another. Common standards and identifiers, including UPRNs and USRNs, will play a crucial role in making that possible.
There is still a significant amount of property information held in different formats and systems across the sector. As that information becomes increasingly digitised, interoperability will be essential if organisations are to realise the full benefits of digital transformation.
A common approach
Trust frameworks must support interoperability at both a technical and governance level. It is not enough for systems to exchange data; organisations also need common approaches to identity, assurance, provenance and participation if trusted data sharing is to work effectively at scale.
The framework is being developed so that it can work alongside other emerging trust frameworks across the property sector. We do not want to create another silo. Our aim is to support a federated approach where trusted organisations can operate across multiple ecosystems through common standards and assurance processes.
As trust frameworks become more widely adopted, the ability to recognise and work with one another will be critical to creating a connected property data ecosystem rather than a series of separate networks.
Not that long ago, conversations about the future of NLIS were largely focused on replacing ageing infrastructure. Today, advances in technology and the growing momentum behind Smart Data and interoperability mean we can do something much more ambitious and we’re at exactly the right point in time to make this happen. Twenty-five years ago, NLIS transformed the way official search data was exchanged. Next Gen NLIS has the opportunity to do that again.
A significant moment
We’re helping pioneer the use of trust frameworks in the property sector, and while that comes with challenges and a great deal of learning, it is also incredibly exciting. Most importantly, we’re doing it collaboratively, working with local authorities, data providers, software suppliers and search companies to create something that will make a genuine difference to the home buying process.
For me, that’s what makes this moment so significant.
We’re not simply replacing a platform. We’re helping to build the foundations for a more trusted, connected and interoperable property market which will support reform in the home buying and selling process.
About the author
Fiona Barron is the chief executive at Land Data and is leading the community interest company’s development of Next Gen NLIS, a platform for the trusted sharing of authoritative land and property data, and the Land Data Trust Framework. Both of these data infrastructures for England and Wales launch in March 2027. Fiona has extensive experience in communications, strategy, and business development for complex and changing organisations. She has worked with local government and corporate clients in information technology, telecoms, and the professional services sector. Fiona is a Chartered PR practitioner.
