Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to common questions about Ordnance Survey mapping, scales, formats, licensing, pricing, delivery and support. Whether you’re ordering a planning map, downloading OS data, or requesting a bespoke dataset, this page will help you choose confidently.
Purchase the Latest OS Mapping Data
We offer full Great Britain coverage with official Ordnance Survey mapping in multiple formats and scales. Our products are:
- ✅ Easy to order online
- 💷 Competitively priced
- ⚡ Delivered quickly — often within 30 minutes
Explore our range:
Planning Pack (1:500 + 1:1250) •
1:1250 Location Plans •
1:2500 Rural Plans •
1:500 Block Plans
Official Ordnance Survey Partner
UK Map Centre LLP is an Ordnance Survey Premium Partner (Licence: AC0000848283) authorised to supply official OS mapping and data. All products include the required © Crown Copyright and Database Right notice and are fully licensed for professional use.
What scale map do I need?
The scale you need depends on your intended use. We recommend checking with the body you’re submitting to. The most common scale is 1:1250 (Location/Site Plan), accepted by planning authorities and Land Registry. For rural sites, use 1:2500. For detailed plans often requested by planning departments (Block Plan), choose 1:500 (or 1:200 / 1:100). The simplest option is the Planning Pack.
Can I get an OS map instantly online / how fast is delivery?
We supply maps quickly by email — either as an attachment or a download link. From 8am to 10pm, seven days, we aim to deliver within ~20 minutes. Larger files may take slightly longer. If you haven’t received your map, check spam/junk; if needed, contact us via the contact form or online@ukmapcentre.com.
What formats are available and what do the file types mean?
We supply formats to suit everyone — from a simple planning PDF to CAD/GIS data for engineers:
- Raster Images: PDF, JPEG, TIFF, Word (DOCX), PNG, BMP — open on most devices, no specialist software required. See: Block/Location/Rural Plans (formats).
- Vector (CAD): DWG, DXF — for AutoCAD, SketchUp, Surfer, etc. Product: OS MasterMap CAD. Guide: OS CAD Data.
- Vector/Raster (GIS): GeoTIFF, GeoPackage (GPKG), Shapefile (SHP), GML — for QGIS/ArcGIS. Product: GIS MasterMap (AOI) or MasterMap Tiles.
We recommend downloading samples on product pages to confirm the format/map type meets your needs.
Are the maps council / Land Registry / utility compliant?
Yes — all our maps meet UK council, Land Registry and utility requirements. Popular products:
Planning Pack,
1:1250 Location Plan,
1:500 Block Plan.
What does being an OS Premium Partner mean and is the mapping official/licensed?
Being an Ordnance Survey (OS) Premium Partner means UK Map Centre LLP is officially authorised to supply OS mapping and data under a partner licence. We meet OS standards for data handling, accuracy and compliance. All mapping and data supplied are official OS products, fully licensed for professional use — planning, Land Registry, utilities, surveying and design.
How much does it cost?
Prices depend on scale, format and area size. Typical starting prices (+VAT):
- 1:100 — from £14.39
- 1:200 — from £14.39
- 1:500 — from £10.42
- 1:1250 — from £15.83
- 1:2500 (rural/location plan) — from £22.92
- 1:5000 — from £20.14
- 1:10,000 — from £24.22
- Planning Pack (1:500 + 1:1250) — from £26.64
- Digital data for CAD/GIS (e.g., DWG, DXF, SHP, GML) — from £22.37
See product pages for current pricing:
1:1250 •
1:2500 •
1:500 •
CAD MasterMap •
GIS MasterMap (AOI)
What area does your mapping cover?
We supply Ordnance Survey mapping covering all of Great Britain — England, Scotland, and Wales — with complete national coverage for OS MasterMap, raster maps, contours and aerial imagery. Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are covered by separate mapping agencies.
How to find my location on a map?
Use the locator on our product pages to search by address, postcode, OS grid reference, coordinates, or what3words. A good starting point is the 1:1250 Location Plan.
Can I get custom or bespoke maps?
Yes — we can create maps to your exact requirements (area, scale, format, layers such as boundaries, contours, aerial imagery, or OS MasterMap). Maps are supplied as print-ready PDFs or digital CAD/GIS data, from small site plans to large multi-tile datasets. Email custom@ukmapcentre.com or visit Bespoke Mapping.
How are OS map updates handled / how current is the map data?
All maps use the latest OS data available when you order. Typical update frequencies:
- OS MasterMap Topography Layer — ~every 6 weeks
- OS Terrain 5 (T5) — quarterly (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct)
- OS VectorMap Local (1:10,000) — quarterly (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct)
- OS Raster 1:25,000 & 1:50,000 — quarterly (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)
- OS Street View — every 6 months (Apr, Oct)
- OS 250K Road Map — annually (Jun)
- OS Aerial Imagery — every 6 months
Your map is generated on demand with the most recent data for your area.
What rights/licence do I have when I buy a map? Can I print/share it?
Data Licence (Digital products: CAD/GIS/custom digital maps)
Supplied under the Ordnance Survey Data Licence for your internal, project-specific use (sub-contractor sharing allowed where permitted). Public publishing needs an OS Publishing Licence.
View Digital Data Licence
Printed Products Licence (PDF or print-ready files)
For immediate, single use (e.g., planning or Land Registry submission). Mark boundaries in red/blue as required. Reuse requires a new map.
View Printed Products Licence
What if I have a query or need support?
If you need help, call 0141 552 7722 (Mon–Fri, 9:00–17:30), use live chat on the website, or email online@ukmapcentre.com. You can also reach us via the contact form.
What payment methods do you accept and how secure is checkout?
We accept major credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), as well as PayPal, Amazon Pay and Apple Pay. All transactions use secure, encrypted checkout.
Can I get a sample or preview before purchase?
Yes — product pages provide interactive previews and downloadable samples. Try:
1:1250 Location Plan •
CAD MasterMap •
GIS MasterMap (AOI) •
Aerial Imagery Tiles.
Do you offer elevation data (contours/DTM) for CAD or GIS?
Yes — for CAD, see OS Height Data (DTM). For GIS, see OS Terrain GIS.
Where can I buy standard tiles or custom AOI extracts?
Tiles:
MasterMap 1 km tiles •
Aerial 1 km tiles •
1:25k (Explorer) 10 km tiles •
1:50k (Landranger) 20 km tiles.
AOI (Custom Extracts):
GIS MasterMap (AOI) •
Aerial Imagery (AOI).
© Crown Copyright and Database Right. UK Map Centre LLP — Ordnance Survey Premium Partner (Licence AC0000848283)