SoLR March 2026 Update
- Simon Harth
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
April is shaping up to be a fantastic month for strengthening connections across our land referencing community and engaging with those we work alongside.
We have two regional networking evenings lined up perfect opportunities to catch up with fellow SoLR members, share experiences from recent projects, and meet new professionals within the sector.
Community
Upcoming Regional Networking Events
We have launched two regional networking events which are free to attend for members. We are also looking to secure venues for a London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland members so please keep an eye out on the SoLR website for more events being added.
Our Birmingham Networking Event will take place on 1 April 2026, hosted at The Distillery on Sheepcote Street. Please join us to network with your fellow SoLR members to engage in topics such as best practices, new infrastructure schemes, and the evolving challenges we face in property referencing and stakeholder engagement. We would like to invite our members to join us between 18:00–21:00. Sign up via the following link: Networking Event Birmingham | SoLR Please note spaces are limited.
The following week, we’ll be in the Northwest for our Manchester Networking Event on 8 April 2026 at the Black Cat Club on Brown Street. We would like to invite our members to join us between 18:00–21:00. Sign up via the following link: Please note spaces are limited.
Three Peaks Challenge - Member Poll
Something new for SoLR this year. As a committee, we’re exploring the idea of organising a SoLR Three Peaks Challenge later this year and would love your input. To help shape the event, please vote in the poll below:
Would you prefer:
1️⃣ A single‑peak challenge local to your region (e.g., Snowdon, Scafell Pike, or Ben Nevis)
2️⃣ The full Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon)
Professional Engagement
External Engagement
Following a consultation with our network of employer representatives, SoLR members Sarah Joss and Alex Crow's proposal to represent the land referencing industry at this years Waterfront, Land Assembly and Compulsory Purchase for Major Infrastructure event was chosen. They will promote the value which professional land referencers bring to major infrastructure projects, informing and de-risking the consents lifecycle. You can get 10% off tickets by using discount code CP26SOLR.
Key Stakeholder Engagement
On 27 February, SoLR representatives Alex Crow, Mark Aanensen and Sam McAleese delivered an introductory session on land referencing to the National Grid land team.
They covered the fundamentals of land referencing, why it plays such a critical role in DCOs, CPOs and major infrastructure delivery, and how the profession has evolved into a truly digital, data‑driven service. It was a brilliant opportunity to highlight:
The legal and spatial foundations land referencing provides
How high‑quality land data supports consultation, access, design and construction
The shift from document‑centric processes to flexible digital datasets
The value of early engagement and collaboration across disciplines
Real case studies showing how good land referencing de‑risks projects
They also shared how SoLR is supporting the profession—through standards, best practice, professional engagement and the growing community of practitioners across the UK.A huge thank you to National Grid for inviting us. It’s exciting to build stronger links between land referencing specialists and major infrastructure promoters, particularly as programmes scale and the need for consistent, high‑quality land data grows.
Careers
Professional bodies are vital to successful vocational careers because they define professional competence, provide ongoing training, and offer recognition that enhances credibility and career progression. The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the ideal professional body for land references, as professional geographers, offering fully supported and accessible routes to chartership. The RGS-IBG signposts geographer training and careers, including land referencer vacancies listed on the Society of Land Referencers careers pages.
Advertise your career vacancies and attract new talent into our sector.
We share Land Referencer career vacancies within the context of professional recognition on the Royal Geographical Society's website
New Advisory Group
Announcing the new SoLR Data Transformation Advisory Group
We're pleased to share the formation of the Society of Land Referencers (SoLR) Data Transformation Advisory Group – a new forum focused on shaping how land, title and spatial data evolve to better support infrastructure delivery and professional practice. The group brings together practitioners with deep experience in land referencing, GIS and digital delivery, working collaboratively with third parties such as HM Land Registry to provide informed, practical input into their data transformation agenda.
If you’re interested in contributing insights, sharing challenges, or supporting this work, we would love to hear from you hello@solr.org.uk
You can read more about the group’s objectives and early priorities in their recent blog post:
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