In the Guardian today, the above, and:

Plans by the government to give the public free access for the first time to information on who owns England’s land are at risk of being scuppered by landowners, campaigners have said.

The Guardian has previously revealed that there are internal rifts between the government and the Land Registry – an “arm’s length body” that comes under the oversight of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government but acts largely independently – over how far to open it to scrutiny.

and:

Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, which represents landowners and rural businesses, warned of the possible impact of opening the register further.

“Making more personal information public could leave families vulnerable to fraud and other risks, especially as AI makes it easier to steal and misuse people’s identities,” Lane said. “Greater transparency should not come at the expense of people’s privacy, security and safety.” https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/27/landowners-could-scupper-free-land-registry-access-plans-campaigners-warn

Scotland’s situation

Registers of Scotland already offers more free tools than HM Land Registry in England with last purchase price/date, indicative map boundaries, and checks on whether a property is registered. A title sheet and plan costs £3.60. Deeper searches cost more, and rural Land Register coverage remains incomplete.

Scotland has a much longer and more ambitious land-reform track record (Acts in 2003, 2016, and the 2025 Land Reform (Scotland) Act). The 2025 Act requires owners of large holdings, over1,000 hectares, to publish Land Management Plans, engage communities, and consider reasonable requests to lease land or create crofts. A consultation on the detailed rules and guidance is open until late January 2027, with regulations expected around 2029 and plans to be publicly available. This goes beyond mere ownership disclosure to cover management, access, nature, and community influence.

Scotland is well ahead. It has statutory community rights (right to buy, right to roam), and the new duties force large landowners into public plans and engagement. England/Wales is at the earlier stage of opening basic ownership data. Campaigners in England have long pointed to Scotland as a model for community rights and transparency.

Useful sources:

https://www.iema.net/engage/transform/features/interview-guy-shrubsole-on-land-being-used-for-the-common-good/ https://www.nhbs.com/blog/author-interview-with-guy-shrubsole-the-lie-of-the-land

Landowners can still slow, water down, or challenge implementation in Scotland but the legislative foundation is already stronger north of the border.