Data Transformation Advisory Group

The Society of Land Referencers (SoLR) Data Transformation Advisory Group held its first in-person meeting at Gateley Hamer’s London office on Thursday 19th February, marking an important step forward in strengthening collaboration with HM Land Registry (HMLR). 

Attendees included Tim Donoyou, Jennifer Butterfill, Laurie Edwards, Emily Holden, and Jayesh Mistry. From the outset, there was clear enthusiasm about the opportunity to work closely with HMLR. The committee recognised the real potential of this working group to influence meaningful improvements, strengthen communication between practitioners and HMLR, and deliver tangible benefits to the wider land referencing industry. 

Setting the Direction 

The meeting began with a review of the group's terms of reference, objectives, and overall vision. Members discussed existing relationships with contacts at HMLR and explored opportunities to broaden the group’s expertise. This included the potential addition of Marcus Humphrey from Ardent, whose background in land referencing, GIS, and knowledge of the Scottish Land Registry could add valuable perspective. 

A troubleshooting session focused on current HMLR services and areas for improvement, helping to identify key priorities to feed into future discussions. 

The group agreed to meet quarterly at different locations, with the next meeting scheduled for 14th May in Birmingham. A Teams meeting with HMLR has also been arranged for March to better understand their development roadmap and explore how the committee can actively support and contribute. HMLR will also be invited to speak at the next SoLR conference. 

Development Priorities 

Several important development themes were discussed, including: 

• Whether HMLR’s data transformation will be rolled out organisation-wide or regionally (such as the Bristol pilot). 

• Data source, ownership, quality assurance, and the potential role of AI. 

• Polygon verification by HMLR. 

• Faster visibility of titles pending registration, transfer, or application. 

• Integration of third-party datasets (e.g., highways, public rights of way, companies house). 

• Enhanced mapping features and attribute data. 

• Full digitisation of documents   

• Greater clarity around HMLR’s digital partners. 

  
  

These priorities reflect a wider ambition to modernise systems, improve transparency, and ensure that services meet with real-world professional needs.  There was strong alignment across the group, with members united by a shared interest in improving data quality, usability, and digital integration. 

Next Steps 

To ensure momentum continues, all committee members agreed to: 

• Identify connections within their organisations who have existing HMLR relationships. 

• Gather feedback from colleagues, clients, and third parties to help shape future recommendations. 

• Review the different ways in which HMLR and other UK land registration datasets can be accessed—through digital portals, APIs, and third‑party data services—to identify the key features that should be prioritised as part of the HMLR digital transformation 

Looking Ahead 

The meeting established a clear direction and a positive, collaborative tone. There is genuine optimism that this partnership with HMLR can lead to practical improvements that benefit SoLR members, their clients, and the wider land referencing community. 

This first gathering was not just a meeting — it was the beginning of a proactive and solutions-focused dialogue that aims to help shape the future of digital land registration. 

View all SoLR Committees and Advisory Groups Committees | SoLR and contact hello@solr.org.uk if you would like to get involved in an existing group, or propose establishing a new focus area.