From today (Tuesday 21 April) anyone requiring Local Land Charges (LLC1) searches in the local authority area of Carlisle City Council will need to get them from HM Land Registry rather than going directly to the council.

Karina Singh, Director of Transformation at HM Land Registry, said:

Everyone will now have instant, online access to local land charges search results in Carlisle, meaning it will be quicker and simpler to buy and sell property across the area. It is even more important at this current time that public services can be accessed digitally and instantly where possible and we are pleased to be able to contribute to that through the central Local Land Charges Register.

Councillor Gareth Ellis, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Resources at Carlisle City Council, said:

We are pleased to have worked with HM Land Registry to transform our paper-based LLC1 records – made up of tens of thousands of charges, including 51 charges affecting Hadrian’s Wall alone – into a single, digital service. Once again, Carlisle is leading the way and striving to enhance the services we offer to the people we serve within our district and beyond. By updating, transforming and migrating our local land charges data to the central register, we have ensured that all those buying or selling, leasing or remortgaging property across Carlisle have instant access to our local land charges data. Our aim throughout has been, and continues to be, helping our residents and businesses to conduct their property transactions smoothly and efficiently.

Local land charges searches are normally required in the property-buying process. Most local land charges are restrictions or prohibitions on the use of the property such as planning permissions or listed buildings. The local land charges search will reveal whether a property is subject to a charge which then informs a buyer’s decision to buy a property or parcel of land.

HM Land Registry is working in partnership with a number of local authorities in England to migrate their Local Land Charges data to a central, digital register as part of a phased approach. Once migrated, anyone will be able to get instant online search results using the Search for Local Land Charges service.

HM Land Registry’s business customers can use their existing portal and Business Gateway channels or their usual search providers to access Local Land Charges data for those local authorities which have migrated.

Customers will need to continue to submit CON29 enquiries to the local authority.

For an overview of the service, watch our short video.

For more information, read about the Local Land Charges Programme.

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• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

The organisation has, however, said in light of the Coronavirus situation and Government advice it is cancelling all public meetings until it is safe to hold them again.

Ben Hughes, project director of the scheme, said:

We are doing all we can to ensure work continues as much as is feasible, and that delays caused by the knock-on effects of this pandemic are kept to an absolute minimum.

Our priority in these difficult times is the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff, so we have closed our drop-in hub on Wellington Row and we will not be holding any public engagement events.

As an organisation we are doing everything we can to support our community, our government and the NHS by abiding by these measures.

The Agency recently completed work to raise the height of the North Street flood defence, which successfully handled its first test when the city suffered flooding earlier this year.

The work saw new flood gates installed, including a new wider gate to allow better flow for pedestrians into North Street gardens.

Mr Hughes said:

This February was the wettest since records began, with peak river levels at the Viking recorder reaching 4.47m. During this time the gates and wall did their job.

To complete this flood cell and increase the level of protection to properties in this area we still need to replace the floodgate under Lendal arch which is programmed for this September.

Work is also due to continue on raising the embankment between Water End bridge and Scarborough Bridge, behind St Peter’s School.

Two of the flood ‘cells’ that make up the wider York flood alleviation scheme – Clementhorpe and the Foss flood storage area – are due to be heard by the local authority planning committees next month.

The Clementhorpe scheme, which will better protect 135 homes, is due to be heard by City of York Council planning committee on 9 April.

Plans include a floodgate at the junction of Clementhorpe and Terry Avenue, as well as flood defence walls at Waterfront House and Lower Ebor Street.

There will also be additional flood defences built behind Rowntree Park and the adjoining caravan park.

The Foss flood storage area would be built north of Strensall on the River Foss. It would hold back water and slow the flow back into the city in times of heavy rainfall.

Along with the upgraded Foss Barrier, this would better protect more than 1,000 properties along the Foss corridor, such as Huntington Road.

Due to the flood storage area straddling two local authorities, the planning application will be heard by both Ryedale District Council and City of York Council.

A planning application has also been submitted for flood defence work at Bishopthorpe, but due to bird nesting session we may not be able to start work until September.

Mr Hughes added that his team is currently going through a period of readjustment to widespread home working, and we are putting systems in place to support this.

He said they will continue to monitor the York flood alleviation scheme mailbox (yorkfloodplan@environment-agency.gov.uk) and respond to correspondence when and where possible.

If you want to find out about flood risk in your area, up-to-date information can be found by clicking here or you can call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.