More details have emerged of the £1m awarded to Land Data to set up a new independent platform that will ‘modernise conveyancing searches’ as part of efforts to improve the homebuying and selling process .
It was announced this week the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF); a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) programme which fund business regulatory and local authority projects, has awarded the Council for Licensed Conveyancers £742,7000 in funding to create a framework for digitising property data. A further £999,592 has been awarded to Land Data to modernise conveyancing searches.
Land Data, a Community Interest Company, have now confirmed the funding would be allocated to develop the next generation of National Land Information Service, an independent, regulatory platform for Official land and property data. NLIS first launched in 2001 to provide a single point of electronic access to official sources of data from every local authority in England and Wales and other public sector organisations including HM Land Registry and The Mining Remediation Authority. It currently have five channel partners; Dye & Durham, On Point Data, Searchflow, Wessex Searches and X-Press Legal Services. To date NLIS has processed over 27 million searches.
The new platform will be used to access Official conveyancing searches and requests for upfront information; creating a ‘fair and open environment where search intermediaries and Proptech companies can deliver Official data efficiently to their customers.’
The new system will use unique property reference numbers (UPRN) to identify property and ‘bring greater consistency and efficiency to requests for Official land and property data.’ It will also adopt a standardised data framework to enable the opportunity to work with proptech companies and data providers.
Fiona Barron, Chief Executive at Land Data, said:
“Crucially, this independent, technical and regulatory platform will benefit the market as a whole. It will help bring greater certainty and assurance to home buyers and sellers by ensuring that the data underpinning property transactions is current, accurate, and delivered with provenance, meaning it comes directly from trusted central and local government sources.”
“Our aim is to create something that meets the long-term needs of those who rely on Official property data, while laying the foundations for a more flexible and resilient system. This is about making the system work better for everyone — and that starts with ensuring consumers can make decisions based on information they can trust.”
Development of the new platform follows extensive market research in the Spring of this year and a successful proof of concept (PoC) project which proved how the market data model can ‘harmonise data standards to streamline the flow of quality data for Official Searches and the wider home buying and selling process.’ The new platform will launch in 2027, replacing the existing NLIS Hub.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:
“Every day across the country new products are being invented that have the potential to transform lives and revolutionise public services.
“But all too often, we are held back from taking advantage of them by red tape that simply hasn’t kept pace with the scientific and technological advances.
“That’s why we’re backing our regulators to work together with industry, to make the rules fit for purpose, and unlock breakthroughs that will deliver national renewal by driving our economy forwards faster, easier, and safely.”
Nick Chapallaz, Managing Director at GeoPlace and Land Data Board member said:
“Creating the next generation of the National Land Information Service is a vital step forward in modernising the infrastructure that underpins property transactions across England and Wales. The integration of the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) into the platform is essential, bringing consistency, accuracy and confidence to the search process, benefiting consumers, local authorities, and the wider market. GeoPlace is proud to support this platform.”
Juliet Whitworth, Head of Research and Information at the Local Government Association and Land Data Board member said:
“The new NLIS platform has clear benefits for local authorities and their residents and is very much supported by the Local Government Association. It will modernise and streamline the channels of communication local authorities have with search companies and conveyancers, saving time for all parties. It will also ensure the sustainability of essential Official Search data in the long term through cost recovery charges. Lastly, Land Data will bring regulation and governance to the Official Search process, protecting consumers and raising the bar for everyone in the market.”
Maria Harris, Chair of the Open Property Data Association commented:
“I’m delighted to see both Land Data, and the Open Data Property Association in partnership with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, awarded funding through the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund Fourth Round, to develop essential data infrastructure for our home buying and selling market. Our Smart Property Data Trust Framework shares Land Data’s vision for improving transparency, interoperability and trust in the home buying and selling process. Together, our Framework and the next generation of the National Land Information Service are laying the foundations for a more connected, efficient and consumer-focused digital property market.”
