A new collaboration between HM Land Registry (HMLR) and Ordnance Survey (OS) aims to foster “a better and less stressful property market” by enhancing data accessibility and innovation in the housing and geospatial sectors.
The collaboration will make HMLR data easier to access and use and connect with other property market data. The aim, the organisation explained in a joint statement with OS, is to transition from holding the official records of who owns land to actively using the data to enable “a better‑functioning property market” while “supporting growth, innovation and confidence in the UK economy”.
The role of OS is integral to the land registration process, the statement added, with the data it collects on new housing developments, home registration and surveying building footprints used by over 4,500 HMLR case workers every day.
The organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise a partnership that will “help shape a more connected, digitally enabled property market over the next three years, driving improvements for citizens, businesses, and government services”.
The partnership will ensure strategic alignment in relation to the OS National Geographic Database and OS Product roadmap and HMLR’s geospatial roadmap and transformation, the statement explained. It will also facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills and best practice in areas of shared interest.
Other anticipated benefits include more efficient environmental planning, minimising fraud in duplicating property titles and using HMLR and OS data to identify property insurance risk based on the geographical spread and ownership of portfolios.
Tina Kennedy, chief customer officer at OS, explained: “A more efficient property market is vital to the UK economy. It helps people move home more easily, supports development and investment, and underpins one of the most significant assets many people own.
“This is an invaluable opportunity to work closely with HM Land Registry to deliver value to government, homebuyers and developers. Our trusted data has always been integral to the land registration process, so we are delighted to be collaborating with HMLR to further improve data accessibility across government and strengthen connectivity between departments across the housing market.”
Lynne Nicholson, deputy director for data and head of data group at HMLR, added: “We have exciting plans to transition from traditional record keeping to actively fuelling economic growth and unlocking new opportunities across the housing sector.
“I am looking forward to working closely with Ordnance Survey colleagues to share insights and ideas and build a shared vision for trusted data that will make a real difference for all of our customers.”
HMLR launched its digital strategy, Strategy 2025+ last year, committing to making property services “better, faster and less stressful”. The new initiative with OS is the next step in that transformation, HMLR said.
