A new collaboration between HM Land Registry and Ordnance Survey will help transform the property market, the two government bodies claimed today.

The organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding on geospatial data to 'help shape a more connected, digitally enabled property market over the next three years, driving improvements for citizens, businesses, and government services'.

The collaboration between the mapping agency and land registry includes:

  • Ensuring strategic alignment between the OS National Geographic Database and OS Product roadmap and HMLR’s geospatial roadmap; 
  • Leveraging opportunities for data distribution including making best use of OS’s DataHub to provide HMLR data to market; and
  • Exchanging knowledge, skills and best practice in areas of shared interest.

According to the announcement, benefits to a more efficient land registration process 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 Ordnance Survey, said: '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 at HMLR, said: '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.'

The agencies said the collaboration supports the 2024-2026 government’s strategic plan to build 1.5 million new homes across England.