A Local Land Charge is a restriction or prohibition on a particular parcel of land. This has been put in place either to secure the payment of a sum of money, or to limit the use to which the land may be put. The charge is binding on successive owners or occupiers of the land.
The Local Planning Authority is the only source for this official certified search. Our service covers Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils. If you are not sure of the Local Planning Authority boundary in which your land or property is located, please check the postcode via GOV.UK’s find your local council online search.
More information about Local Land Charges can be found in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government guidance on how to buy a home and how to sell a home.
How to submit a search
You can submit a Local Land Charges search using our online form.
In your application, please include:
- a correct, clear and full address of the property or land
- an Ordnance Survey plan, showing the full extent of the area/property edged in red
- for response to Question 2.1 roads must be named in box C. We do not accept phrases such as 'all abutting' Any search on unnamed roads, footways and footpaths should be clearly marked on the plan
- additional parcels of land must have a common boundary or can only be separated by road, railway, river, stream or canal. If there is land or buildings between your plotted areas, they will need to be submitted as separate searches.
If you want to search for more than 10 pieces of land you will be sent an invoice for the additional costs. For a complete list of fees, please view our Local Land Charges fees schedule.
There may be an admin fee for copies of documents. Please first check the Online Planning Register. Most decision notices are free to download.
We are only able to offer a refund if cancellation is requested and agreed by us before the search is recorded and accepted.
You can also submit a full electronic search using the National Land Information Service.
What you can submit
A full Local Land Charges Search, known as an Official Certificate of Search, will reveal the relevant history about a parcel of land. This includes:
- Planning Applications
- Agreements (if applicable)
- Article 4 Directions (if applicable)
- Tree Preservation Orders (if applicable)
- Enforcement Notices (if applicable)
- Building Control Applications (15 years)
- Basic Highway replies (for example, is my property on an adopted road)
- Environmental Health information
- Public Rights of Way
Next steps
We will get back to you within 10 working days.
Personal Search of the Land Charges Register only
A Personal Search is a search of the Local Land Charges Register only. The service is free of charge.
We only accept email bookings for Personal Searches. Please contact the team directly at land.charges@greatercambridgeplanning.org with the following information:
- the full postal address to be searched - we cannot use plot numbers
- a site plan clearly showing the boundary marked in red
- the name of the person or company carrying out the Personal Search
You can submit up to 6 addresses for any appointment, providing a separate site plan for each address. Appointments are allocated on a first come first served basis and we will email you to confirm.
An Official Certificate of Search is not provided after a Personal Search.
Search results
We do not answer queries in regards to personal search results. Please use the access to information sheet for further guidance.