Press release

Geospatial Commission launches pilots to improve how data about land is used in the UK

Three pilots in Devon, West Midlands and Northern Ireland will test how to identify and improve key data that helps inform decisions on whether land across the UK is used for housing, infrastructure or net zero.

• From: Cabinet Office, Geospatial Commission and The Rt Hon Lord True CBE
• Published: 31 August 2021
• Last updated: 8 September 2021 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Land is the UK’s most valuable asset, worth £5.4 trillion in 2017. This finite resource faces competing demands from housing, planning, infrastructure, farming, food production, carbon sequestration, flood protection, habitat creation, underground mineral and geothermal resources.

Demands on land will increase with the need to reach target reductions in net zero greenhouse gas emissions, build more affordable and sustainable homes, and deliver over £600 billion of infrastructure investment over the next five years to Build Back Better.

The Geospatial Commission is working with its pilot area partners in Devon, West Midlands and Northern Ireland, investing £4.56 million as part of a new National Land Data Programme. The pilots will deliver a blueprint for land use data improvement priorities, evidence about how to overcome the data access challenges, and test the benefits of a common UK-wide platform for land use data.

Lord True CBE, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, said:

To make the right choices about how we use our land, we need to ensure that the relevant data are available. The National Land Data Programme pilots will provide insights into the current data access challenges to help improve data that supports effective decision-making and contributes towards critical government priorities, including working towards net zero and housing development.

Sir Bernard Silverman, GC Chair, said:

Having recently been appointed chair of the Geospatial Commission, I am excited to see the launch of the National Land Data Programme pilots. They will be critical in delivering improved access to better location data, one of the key commitments made in the UK Geospatial Strategy.

For more information about the year ahead, read the Geospatial Commission Annual Plan 2021/22.

Notes

1. Spending Round 2019 announced £200 million for the Shared Outcomes Fund to fund pilot projects to test innovative ways of working across the public sector, with an emphasis on thorough plans for evaluation.
2. Central departments across Whitehall are closely involved. Defra, BEIS, MHCLG, DfT and ONS all sit on the Programme Steering Board and the programme team is working to ensure policy alignment.
3. You can now apply for the opportunity to be part of the procurement for the programme’s data sharing platform and external evaluation.
4. The programme will be delivered and evaluated by the end of FY 2022/23.

Published 31 August 2021
Last updated 8 September 2021 + show all updates

1. 8 September 2021

   Link to apply for the procurement for the programme's data sharing platform and external evaluation added to editors notes.

2. 31 August 2021

   First published.