Plans for privatisation of Land Registry put on hold

In the 2015 Autumn Statement, the government announced its intention to privatise the Land Registry and launched a consultation which closed on 26 May 2016 (see Legal update, Government consults on privatisation of Land Registry). The proposals received widespread opposition in responses to the consultation.

The government's intention was to make provision for the privatisation of the Land Registry in the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill. However, the Neighbourhood Planning Bill 2016-17 has been introduced to the House of Commons without any provisions for the privatisation. An unnamed government source has said that ministers are considering their response to the results of the consultation and will be looking at all their options before making a decision.

Source: Law Society Gazette: Land Registry sell-off dropped from infrastructure bill (7 September 2016).