UK's NLPG Nationwide Property Identification System

For the first time, probably since the 11th Century Domesday Book, a complete list of English property addresses is now available, updated in almost real-time. The National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG), the first, definitive, national (England and Wales) address list that provides unique identification of properties and conforms to British Standards is to be launched for commercial use on 30 April 2008. The onward uses of the NLPG are potentially huge, from wider public sector use to commercial application in insurance, customer profiling, logistics, satellite navigation and more.

The commercial availability of the NLPG is a milestone for this local government led project. It is based on the definitive list of standardised and authoritative addresses from local authorities in England and Wales. The NLPG represents the largest shared service of its type and is well embedded in local government. The process not only brings direct benefits to individual local government bodies through efficiencies and service improvements but as an output, provides a much needed definitive, live list of all property in England and Wales.

Local Government’s Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and partner Intelligent Addressing (IA) will formally announce the availability of commercial licensing for the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) to potential users at a launch event on 30th April at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

Steve Brandwood, Geographic Information Team – Programme Manager at IDeA said, “From the NLPG’s earliest days, many local authorities started to derive the benefits of utilising one integrated corporate address dataset. Every local authority in England and Wales is now committed to the NLPG process. Putting in place a commercial license for the data will enable all sectors to benefit from an address gazetteer regularly maintained at source, and including the key for efficiently linking datasets, the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN)”.

This launch is aimed at potential users of the NLPG and is designed to explain the NLPG process, which has led to the development of the only national address dataset compliant with the national standard, BS7666 (the NLPG is 100% compatible with its sister project in Scotland, the National Gazetteer for Scotland). The event includes a presentation of the NLPG ‘in action’, as well as outlining the terms of access to the gazetteer. The presentations will be followed by a buffet lunch and drinks reception.

Potential users of the NLPG who would like to attend the event are invited to register their details using the form available on the home page of the NLPG website www.nlpg.org.uk.