This was the headline in the Guardian today - 50% of land is owned by 25,000 landlords (1% of the population).
Although this sort of figure has up until now only been an estimation, it appears that material obtained from a combination of public maps, data released through Freedom of Information requests and other sources can now confirm that claim. The breakdown of the 50% ownership figure is:
30% -the artistocracy and gentry (which has remained unchanged for centuries)
18% - corporations,
17% - Oligarchs/City bankers,
17% - unaccounted for (Undeclared at Land Registry - the most likely owners of undeclared land are claimed to be aristocrats as many of their estates have remained in their families for centuries),
8.5% - the public sector
5% - homeowners.
2% - conservation charities
1.4% - crown and royal family
0.5% - Church of England
I think this level of inequality of land ownership demonstrates how little power national or local governments have in reality. Decisions as to how land is used for the benefit of the whole population rather than a small percentage of it, are, in effect, largely out of their hands - e.g. decisions relating to housing, environmental initiatives, public amenities, etc, etc.
