Crown jewels, an ‘s’ for sustainability and definitely no hand break turns.

Top themes from the LLC Training & Development Event 2026

Delegates of the Local Land Charges Training & Development Event 2026 were treated to a view of home buying and selling market from every angle. From Government policy specialists outlining the future home buying and selling ‘Roadmap’ and smart data opportunities, to deep dive training on the CON29 and Highway boundaries, to a fascinating panel discussion on the role of authoritative data in enabling the property market. 

With so much high-quality content, choosing ‘highlights’ is a challenge. Instead, we’ve picked out some of the themes that were repeated across the two days. 

• The momentum for change in home buying & selling market is strong

From MHCLG’s much anticipated reform ‘Roadmap’ to HM Land Registry’s future recommendations from the property data pilots, Government is pushing forward the home buying and selling agenda. It was good to hear that these reforms would be phased in, with "no hand break turns".

Framing these changes is research by the Dept of Business & Trade from March 2026 highlighting that smart data schemes in the homebuying sector could generate over £14.1 billion in net social value for the UK economy between 2028 and 2043. The report identified property as a top priority sector for smart initiatives, which are expected to drive efficiency by reducing transaction failures and speeding up the home-buying process. The launch of Next Gen NLIS in March 2027 positions it firmly within this momentum, providing the trusted digital infrastructure needed to turn policy ambition into practical, scalable change.

• Authoritative data needs to be sustainable

This came through loud and clear from multiple sessions. While the market is racing ahead with new initiatives and services, and there are constant calls for improved data accessibility, the conversation about maintaining the authoritative data which underpins it all is quiet. This data is the lynchpin for growth and innovation, but who is ensuring local authorities can protect it for the long term? Juliet Whitworth from the LGA summed this up brilliantly: “we hear a lot about FAIR data, but it needs an ‘S’ on the end for sustainability!” Next Gen NLIS is the only innovation happening right now focused on protecting the revenue generated by Official Searches. 

• Increasing demand for interoperable data products

The time is right now  for local authorities  to think about their data in new ways. The rigid format of the CON29 pdf is slowly being phased out. In its place is a need for specific data items at different stages in the home buying and selling process. This presents opportunities for local authorities to market and cost recover for the new data products that the market wants.  This is one of Next Gen NLIS’ top benefits for local authorities. 

• Trust is still king

"Data must be trusted, that is its most important attribute.‘" This is a phrase we heard again and again. Rebekah Giubarelli from the Local Land Charges Institute described data as local authorities’ ‘crown jewels’ and Nick Chapallaz from GeoPlace reinforced this with "data is a local authority’s greatest asset aside from its people". With trust comes the accuracy and precision that the consumer needs when they move home. Trust Frameworks takes this trust to an infrastructure level - embedding data governance, standards and verifiable identities. As Next Gen NLIS technical lead Chris Lees put it: "building Next Gen NLIS without one just wasn't an option".