PlanningMapsUK launches online mapping for planning

PlanningMapsUK has launched an online Ordnance Survey mapping platform for UK planning applications, aimed at homeowners and property professionals.

Users can search for a property by address or postcode, mark the relevant site and generate licensed mapping online. The platform covers standard scales commonly requested by local planning authorities, including 1:1250 and 1:2500 location plans, and 1:200 and 1:500 block and site plans.

Maps can be produced in A4 or A3 format and downloaded after purchase, removing the need for applicants to source mapping data and prepare plans manually.

Planning use

Site location plans and block plans are a routine part of planning submissions for home extensions, loft conversions, new homes, outbuildings and changes of use. Applications often require a location plan showing a property within its wider setting, along with a more detailed plan of the development site.

The system includes features commonly required in planning documents, such as red and blue site boundaries, surrounding roads, nearby properties and a north point. It uses licensed Ordnance Survey data for planning and property work.

A Spokesperson said: "For many homeowners, getting the right map is one of the first confusing parts of submitting a planning application. We wanted to make that process much simpler. Customers can find their property, choose the area they need, add their site boundary and create a properly licensed Ordnance Survey plan without needing specialist mapping knowledge."

The service is aimed at both one-off applicants and professionals handling multiple projects, giving it a potential market that ranges from individual householders to architects, planning consultants, surveyors and developers.

CAD formats

Alongside PDF planning maps, the platform also offers editable mapping for professional users. Files are available in formats including DWG and DXF, which are widely used in architectural and surveying workflows.

CAD files can be supplied using British National Grid coordinates, with optional terrain and contour information for projects that need elevation data.

The addition of CAD mapping broadens the platform beyond basic planning documents. Professionals can use it to obtain existing site information for larger design and development schemes, while householders can use the same service for a standard residential application.

Broader access

The platform is designed to reduce the need for users to understand specialist GIS software, coordinate systems or traditional ordering processes. Instead, customers start with a property search, then select the area and output they need.

PlanningMapsUK currently provides mapping across Great Britain and is expanding the range of digital mapping products available through the platform.

The launch comes as digital tools continue to reshape parts of the planning and property services market once handled through more manual processes. For homeowners in particular, the early stages of preparing an application can involve technical requirements that are unfamiliar even for relatively small projects.

By focusing on online ordering and standard planning outputs, the company is positioning itself in a niche between consumer-facing application support and specialist mapping services. The inclusion of professional CAD formats also suggests an effort to win repeat business from design and property firms.

PlanningMapsUK describes itself as a UK online mapping platform for planning applications, architecture and property projects. Its products include site location plans, block plans, site plans and digital mapping in PDF, DWG and DXF formats.