Chapter 01 / Summary
1. Land ownership in England remains highly concentrated and secretive
Land ownership remains our oldest, darkest, best-kept secret.
Concentrated ownership.In England, less than 1% of the population owns over 50% of the land. This extreme concentration has its roots in the Norman Conquest of 1066, when William the Conqueror distributed land to a small group of barons. Despite centuries of social and economic change, this fundamental inequality persists.
Lack of transparency.Unlike many other countries, England lacks a comprehensive, publicly accessible land registry. The Land Registry remains incomplete, with about 17% of land unregistered. Even for registered land, detailed ownership information is often hidden behind complex corporate structures or offshore entities. This opacity makes it difficult for the public, researchers, and policymakers to fully understand patterns of land ownership and their implications.
Key barriers to transparency:
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