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1. INTRODUCTION
The aim of this leaflet is to clarify the relationship between the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI), Land Registers of NI (LRNI) and Syntegra and to explain how computerisation of the Land Registry affects the registry map. It has been produced in response to customer concern about the content and accuracy of the electronic registry map.
2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OSNI AND LRNI/SYNTEGRA
OSNI is the mapping authority responsible for the maintenance of the topographic database of Northern Ireland.
LRNI is responsible for providing accurate information concerning legal interests in land in Northern Ireland.
Syntegra is the systems integration business of British Telecommunications plc. with whom LRNI has entered into a contract under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to computerise its operations.
The computerised service known as LandWeb requires the use of OSNI large scale digital vector data for all of Northern Ireland. OSNI leases the data to Syntegra and permits its storage and retrieval in LandWeb.
Memorandum of Understanding
In March 2001, LRNI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OSNI and Syntegra in relation to the supply and use of OSNI digital data in the LandWeb service.
The Memorandum of Understanding
· licenses LRNI to use OSNI data in accordance with its statutory functions and to publish OSNI large-scale data via an extranet to approved and licensed LandWeb customers. Where LRNI provides a customer with a paper copy of OSNI data, it must contain a note that the copy is subject to Crown copyright.
· provides for the annual payment to OSNI of a charge for this License. This charge is not a copyright charge but is a Treasury approved means of contribution to the costs of developing and maintaining the national mapping system.
· establishes a means for agreement on the design and content of printed LandWeb maps which should be significantly different from OSNI ACE maps in appearance.
· provides a framework for the establishment of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between OSNI and LRNI for dealing with requests for new surveys from LRNI and the associated timescales
3.DIGITAL MAPPING
Prior to the introduction of digital mapping, Land Registry detail was drawn manually on a series of paper copies of Ordnance Survey maps known collectively as the registry map.
Digital mapping is radically different from paper based mapping in that information is held independently in a series of layers with the option to display any combination of layers together. This is particularly useful when viewing areas of concentrated detail such as blocks of apartments, NIHE estates or commercial developments. When a revised OS digital map tile becomes available, it is simply loaded into the system independent of the other layers. This means that Land Registry data is always viewed within the context of the latest available OS data, which would not have been the case in the manual system.
The LandWeb system allows users to view the layers holding Land Registry and OSNI data together and to mix and match them. At the beginning of each electronic map search, the following layers will be displayed automatically. During the search the various layers can be turned on and off.
| OSNI layers |
Land Registry layers |
| Building |
Freehold |
| Parcel |
Leasehold |
| Legal/Administrative |
Encumbrance |
| Symbol |
|
| Misc. |
|
| Text |
|
| Other |
|
4. LAND REGISTRY BOUNDARIES and OS FEATURES
The Land Registry layers in the electronic map were created by a process of overlaying and referencing scanned images of the registry paper map on to the electronic OS map and digitising the Land Registry boundaries. The paper registry map and the OS digital map were referenced to each other using OS features common to both maps. In some instances, where the registry map had not been kept up to date with OS revisions, the referencing process highlighted differences between OSNI data on the paper registry map and OSNI data on the digital map. In these circumstances, referencing was completed on a best-fit basis within an agreed tolerance. As a result, some Land Registry boundaries which had been coincident with OS features on the paper maps now appear in LandWeb to be offset from the OSNI digital map features. This has resulted in customers questioning the accuracy of copy maps.
Similarly, in the future, when OSNI supply a revised version of a map tile to the LandWeb system, the Land Registry digital boundaries coincident with the existing OSNI digital features may also become offset from the new OSNI digital features. In effect, this means that Land Registry boundaries may only accurately reflect their relationship with OSNI features at the time of their first registration and against the particular version of the OSNI map in use at that time.
A cautionary note to this effect will be inserted in copy maps and the map view screens in LandWeb.
5. THE ROLE AND PURPOSE OF THE LAND REGISTRY MAP
The Land Registry map indicates the location of registered holdings (Rule 141(1) as amended by paragraph 19 of the Schedule to the Amendment Rules 2000) but does not guarantee boundaries. Responsibility for the accuracy of boundaries given in documents rests with the applicant not the Registry. A map is acceptable for registration in all cases where the property location as indicated by the applicant does not create a boundary conflict with the existing registry map and has been mapped in accordance with various Registry requirements as to map scales, plotting limitations and tolerances. Whether registration the exact line of the legal boundary can be identified depends, to a large extent, upon the precision with which it is defined in the documents on which the registration is based. The Land Registry’s role is to ensure that the registry map shows the accurate location of the properties described in documents lodged for registration.
Article 64 of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 provides that the description of land on the registry map (unless otherwise stated) is not conclusive as to the boundaries or extent of the land. However, boundaries can be made conclusive and the procedure to be followed is set out in Rule 144
6. COMPUTERISED COPY MAPS
Following discussions with customer representatives, the content of computerised copy maps is under review. The outcome of the review will be communicated as soon as possible. In the meantime, Certified Copy Maps show
- Only the boundary of the folio for which the map has been requested is shown. No other folio boundaries are shown.
- All leases and other mapped burdens within the folio boundary are shown.
- Mapped burdens affecting other land within the area covered by the map print are visible although the boundaries of such other land are not visible.
- The folio number appears in the legend on the left hand side of the page and not directly on the map.
- The Land Registry seal is depicted within the information box on the left hand
side of the page.
- Mapped appurtenant rights are shown.
Uncertified Copy Maps show
- The boundaries of the folio for which the map has been requested are shown. No other folio boundaries are shown.
- Mapped burdens within the folio boundary are shown.
- Mapped burdens affecting other land within the area covered by the map print are visible although the boundaries of such other land are not visible.
- The folio number appears in the legend on the left hand side of the page.
MAP MAINTENANCE MARKERS
Pink pins which are used on the map to indicate areas where map maintenance is underway may appear on copy maps. They are for official use only and should be disregarded by customers.
7. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
While the Land Registry’s position as described in paragraphs (4) and (5) is in line with the legislation under which it operates, it could be argued that this approach is no longer in the best interests of the public and that perhaps the legislation should be reviewed to take account of the application of rapidly developing technology.
We would like this leaflet to represent a starting point for discussion on this important subject and if you have any views on this or any other issue covered by this leaflet please forward them in writing to Brigid McAlinden, Customer Service Manager, LRNI or by e-mail to brigid.mcalinden@lrni.gov.uk
In the meantime we will consult with colleagues in the Land Registry in Scotland who are also experiencing problems caused by changing OS detail.
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