Conveyancing solicitors could get free access to more environmental search information from local authorities following an Information Tribunal ruling.

In a case concerning East Riding of Yorkshire, the tribunal ruled that the local authority should have allowed a representative from a private search company to inspect certain environmental records free of charge.

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 require councils to make environmental information readily accessible to the public, though they are permitted to levy a charge for making the documentation available in hard copy.

In this case the tribunal ruled that the council should have made the raw data available free rather than levying a hard copy charge.

Dan Archer, franchise development director at search company X-Press Legal Services, said: ‘This ruling opens up the possibility for reduced costs and better transaction value as local authorities will have to provide access to more information without charge.

‘Some local authorities have mistakenly been charging for information that the EIR requires them to provide free, but we are starting to see them change their practices,’ he said.

David Kempster, marketing director at MDA SearchFlow, said: ‘As a result of this case free access to raw data from local authorities could be increased.’