Land Registry confirms plan to sell county offices

A spokesman for HM Land Registry confirmed that the organisation is in discussions over the sale of the large premises, near to Telford Shopping Centre at Parkside Court off Hall Park Way.

The organisation said it plans to relocate within the town but would not be drawn on the location of a future site.

The service is said to employ around 300 people and was the focus of protests from local politicians over government privatisation plans in 2016.

A spokesman confirmed that the registry was intending to move to another building later this year or early in 2019.

Marion Shelley, senior press officer at the Land Registry said: "HM Land Registry is pursuing plans for the sale of its office property in Telford and to relocate to another building in the town later this year or early next year. The plans are subject to a number of commercial agreements being concluded."

Local politicians reacted with anger in 2016 when the government floated plans to privatise the service, with many concerned about the potential for the loss of vital jobs.

Under the proposals, a private operator would have taken over the registering of the ownership of land and property in England and Wales.

Chancellor Philip Hammond put an end to speculation about Land Registry privatisation in late 2016 when he said: "Following consultation the government has decided that HM Land Registry should focus on becoming a more digital data-driven registration business, and to do this will remain in the public sector. Modernisation will maximise the value of HM Land Registry to the economy, and should be completed without a need for significant exchequer investment."

HM Land Registry registers the ownership of property.

It is one of the largest property databases in Europe and at the peak of the property boom in 2007, £1 million worth of property was processed every minute in England and Wales.