NHS Surplus Land data collection
Details for the NHS Surplus Land data collection including assurance lead and data provider responsibilities.
Background
The NHS Surplus Land data collection has existed since 2008 and was originally designed to provide information to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Homes England and the Office of Government Property (OGP) on sites that can be disposed of, thereby contributing to the Public Land for Housing Programme. The collection currently monitors the contribution made by the NHS to the release of publicly owned land to ensure the efficient and strategic use of the NHS estate.
From quarter 2 of 2020/21 onwards, reporting is done by data providers when needed in an always-live collection on the Estates and Management Facilities (EFM) system.
The live collection combined and replaced previous information sources on surplus land in the NHS, including the Strategic Estates Planning (SLP) Collection and the annual NHS England Surplus Land collection. Merging these into a single live collection significantly reduced the burden on data providers and enables timely access to this data for stakeholders and for the public.
Uses
Examples of how NHS Surplus Land data is used and why it is important.
DHSC use this data for:
- monitoring and informing activity internally, briefing ministers and senior civil servants, and informing departmental strategy
- informing wider strategic discussions and delivery on surplus land to ensure the right shape and size of the NHS estate
- financial reporting and planning, such as capital planning and spending reviews
- harnessing wider support and funding for disposals
NHS England use this data for:
- monitoring and informing activity internally, briefing ministers and senior executives
- supporting, reviewing, and challenging estate strategies
- financial reporting and planning (including spending reviews)
Regional authorities use this data for identifying where local support can help promote the most effective use of surplus land.
Reporting responsibilities
NHS trusts and NHS Property Services (reporting organisations) must update the collection regularly. The minimum requirement is that the latest information available is reported by the end of the quarter for extraction and publication. Information is required for plots that:
- have been disposed of since the start of the current financial year (for example, 1 April 2022).
- are currently surplus, or are a future opportunity for disposal
Oversight and data assurance
The following controls are in place to ensure data remains accurate and relevant:
- The collection system has input controls around data type and range, and blank values. Providers are not required to respond to questions irrelevant to their disposal (for example, they are not asked to provide sale details for an unsold site).
- NHS England senior estates leads (SELs) have access to data for their region (only) via delivery of a management information extract, so they can conduct focused checks on whether data matches their own understanding of the local context.
- NHS England’s Programme Management Office (PMO) performs analysis of completeness and accuracy of data at regional/national level, checking data is consistent with alternatives source (such as NHS financial returns). They are responsible for highlighting to the relevant senior estates leads and regional delivery directors (RDDs) when further action is needed.
- Prior to publication, the NHS England Workforce and Estates Data Collection team conducts validation checks on the data extract for the quarter and will contact data providers and request that any inconsistencies are addressed.
Roles and responsibilities
Role | Responsibilities | Access level |
---|---|---|
NHSE assurance leads (SELs and RDDs) |
Engaging data providers to monitor compliance with reporting requirements. Supporting data providers to complete returns by signposting to guidance, challenging data provided and troubleshooting. Providing assurance including accessing data reports and assuring timely and completed validated data is supplied by providers prior to final extraction each quarter. Collecting data provider feedback on the collection. |
Data relevant to SEL/RDD geographical area only provided by Estates Collections Team as pre-release management information |
NHSE PMO team |
Providing data assurance. Cascading reminders to assurance leads to validate data. Co-ordinating delivery of guidance and support for assurance leads. Collecting feedback from assurance leads and data providers. Working with DHSC to consider interventions to increase quantity and quality of data if required. |
England level data provided by Estates Collections team as pre-release management information |
Data Providers – NHS trusts and NHS Property Services | Providing complete and accurate surplus land data on trust surplus land disposals to NHS England's Workforce and Estates Collection team by relevant extract date. | Role-based access control via secure login - data for own organisation only |
Surplus Land data publication frequency
The NHS Surplus Land collection was live throughout the year, to extract and publish information on a quarterly basis to improve transparency around NHS performance and activity. This placed no additional burden on trusts, and there was no requirement for extra resource. Trusts could update the information as and when they were able.
From 2025/26 onwards, we will collect and publish the information biannually, at the end of quarter 2 and quarter 4, to improve data quality.
All data for plots marked by providers as 'not sensitive' will be published by NHS England. It will be marked as 'not sensitive' when reported to cross-government programmes.
Data for plots marked by providers as 'sensitive' will not be published by NHS England, although a small number of England-level aggregate figures will be released (it is not possible to identify any trust level figures from these). Data will only be shared for clearly justified purposes in line with the uses detailed above. Any shared data will be marked as 'sensitive' and must only be viewed by approved recipients.
Last edited: 25 June 2025 10:50 am