Hot Topic Highlight - Contractual Control Agreements (CCAs)
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What is this blog about?
In this week’s blog, we take a look at Contractual Control Agreements (CCAs). These are being introduced from April 2027 to increase transparency in the land market.
This is essential reading for RICS APC Planning & Development and Land & Resources pathway candidates, as well as candidates on other pathways pursuing the technical Purchase & Sale competency.
You can read the full Government guidance here.
What are CCAs?
The Levelling Up & Regeneration Act 2023 and the Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026 are introducing a duty to provide information to the Land Registry about rights granted by specific land agreements.
These agreements must relate to registered-land under the Land Registration Act 2002, i.e., freehold or a registered leasehold with >15 years unexpired at the time of the grant of the CCA.
These include:
Options
Conditional contracts
Pre-emption rights
Certain rights associated with promotion agreements
Rights that are not covered include:
Security arrangements, e.g., a charge for the repayment of a loan or mortgage or to obligate the payment of overage
Rights affecting leases with <15 years remaining at the time that the right is granted
Non-development rights
Rights held for non-business purposes
Short term rights (<18 months)
Why are CCAs being introduced?
The types of land agreement mentioned above provide rights to someone (who is not the land owner) to control how the land is used or developed.
Making these agreements public knowledge will increase transparency over who controls specific parcels of land. This will, in turn, help to make the land market more efficient and equitable and enable local authorities and communities to understand who controls land in their local area.
When do CCAs become a legal requirement?
From 6 April 2027 in England and Wales.
What information needs to be provided on a CCA?
The following contractual control information must be provided:
The involved parties
What type of right is being granted
Affected land
Start and end dates
Extension rights
Other relevant terms (see Part 5 of the Government guidance)
When must the information be provided to the Land Registry?
A duty to provide the information on the CCA arises upon a relevant event, e.g., the grant, assignment, variation, exercise or termination of the right.
The information must be provided digitally through a regulated conveyancer within 60 calendar days of a relevant event taking place.
Who must provide the information on the CCA?
The grantee, i.e., the party who benefits from the CCA. This will most likely be the developer or land promoter.
What happens to information on the CCA?
The Land Registry will process and publish the information on a publicly accessible database.
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Stay tuned for our next blog post to help build a better you.
N.b. Nothing in this article constitutes legal, professional or financial advice.