Image source: GeoPlace
Two leading figures in local government and location data have joined the board of Land Data, the organisation that regulates official searches through the National Land Information Service (NLIS).
Claire Holloway, head of corporate services at the Local Government Association (LGA), and Nick Chapallaz, managing director of GeoPlace, have been appointed to the board of the community interest company.
Land Data said they will bring highly relevant experience in company governance, strategy, business transformation and senior leadership to the organisation.
Fiona Barron, Land Data chief executive, commented: “The appointments come at a time when we are instilling the importance of official, regulated conveyancing searches across government and the property sector.
“The benefits of these searches, which are carried out directly by local authorities and other official data providers such as the Coal Authority, include unlimited indemnity and adherence to the Law Society’s best practice guidelines for CON29 searches. They offer homebuyers the highest quality conveyancing search data available, safeguarding their future.”
Strategic role
Holloway is a member of the LGA’s strategic leadership team and is responsible for operational business including IT and business management.
She said: “Land Data provides a unique role in the home buying and selling market – it is the only champion and regulator of official searches, and the only organisation to provide training and events for Local Authority Local Land Charges teams.”
Chapallaz is an expert in location based systems and services with extensive experience of advising local and central government bodies. In his role at GeoPlace he oversees its national management of unique property reference number and unique street reference numbers, crucial features of location data in local government.
He commented: “The geospatial data used for conveyancing searches, which we all rely on when we buy a new home, is a crucial component of our national data infrastructure and we must protect its stewardship by local authorities.
“In my role as board member I will be supporting Land Data to ensure official searches, and the organisation itself, remain competitive and relevant in the marketplace.”
