A coalition of organisations in the property sector has called on the Government to ensure that unique property reference numbers (UPRNs) are embedded in all public sector projects related to buildings.
The group has made the recommendation as one of three in a letter that says the move will help to transform the property market, providing benefits for the public and private sectors.
UPRNs are unique identifiers for every addressable location in Great Britain and are managed nationally by GeoPlace, a joint venture of Ordnance Survey and the Local Government Association.
The coalition consists of 28 organisations, with the Lettings Industry Council having publicised the move. Other members include the British Property Federation, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Open Property Data Association and the Property Institute.
Beyond aspiration
The letter says that embedding them for use in public sector projects and legislation should go beyond aspirational statements and include a proactive campaign for the public bodies to be aware of data already available under the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement.
It also requires a clear roadmap for widespread adoption.
This should be accompanied by engaging with the private sector to overcome barriers to adoption of UPRNs and defining a clear agreement on the ethical use of data in the housing market.
The coalition says these will improve transparency and market efficiency, promote more market activity that would increase revenue for HM Treasury, improve safety in buildings, speed up the home buying and selling process, reduce administrative waste, help to enforce housing legislation and improve data collection for targeted interventions.
Vital infrastructure
Theresa Wallace, chair of the Lettings Industry Council, said: "The UPRN is a vital piece of infrastructure that can drive significant improvements in the property market. We believe that its mass adoption will transform the letting industry helping government, businesses and the consumer and we call on the Government to take immediate steps to help with the adoption of the UPRN."
The letter has been welcome by GeoPlace, whose managing director Nick Chapallaz commented: The UPRN is a critical tool that underpins the accuracy and reliability of property and land data across the country. Widespread adoption combined with best practices, will not only streamline the home buying and selling process, but also accelerate the Government's housebuilding initiatives and instil greater confidence throughout the sector.”
He added: the benefits extend beyond the property sector, positively impacting policymaking, process improvements, and decision making in both government and commerce. This is precisely why the UPRN has been made open and mandated by the Central Digital and Data Office as the public sector standard for identifying geographic locations.”
