General

What is the difference between the three new products?  

All three products are derived from a single database which captures data from multiple authoritative address sources.  The source data is collated, verified and quality assured by GeoPlace. Each product has a different level of content:

AddressBase Premium provides the most detailed view of an address and its lifecycle. It has more records than AddressBase Plus as it provides a range of information relating to an address or property from creation to retirement. It contains local authority, Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail addresses structured in a relational database model. The product is based around the UPRN, with current (approved) addresses; and alternative addresses for current properties (reflecting the changes in address and the address life cycle); provisional properties / addresses (proposed planning developments) and historic information for properties (including historic alternative addresses) where available

OWPAs and cross references to the OS MasterMap TOID’s are also included.

Because it is a relational model, an application cross reference table gives the user links to other data sources e.g., OS MasterMap TOIDS, Valuation Office Agency Council Tax and Non Domestic Rate references.

AddressBase Plus contains current properties and addresses sourced from local authorities, Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail matched to the UPRN and structured in a flat file model. It has more records than AddressBase as it includes objects without postal addresses, such as subdivided properties, places of worship and community centres. It also enables the end user to locate an address or property on a map, through the assigned x and y coordinates, but crucially the  cross referencing the information with OS MasterMap products via the OS MasterMap Topography Layer and Integrated Transport Network (ITN) Layer Topographic Identifiers (TOIDs) allows the address data to be viewed within a wider geographic context.

The address information is sourced from 348 Local Authorities Land and Property Gazetteers, Ordnance Survey’s large scale mapping, Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File (PAF) and the Valuation Office Agency.

AddressBase contains Royal Mail PAF addresses (27.2 million) both commercial and residential matched to the local authority Unique Property Reference Number and structured in a flat file model. This allows users to link additional information about a property to a single address. It also provides an enhancement to the Royal Mail PAF data by assigning an X and Y coordinate to every address.

In which formats are the AddressBase products available?

All 3 AddressBase products are available in CSV and GML 3.2.1 formats

How often will the new product be updated?

All AddressBase Products will be updated on a six-weekly basis.  The update is made available to customers for both managed sets and area of interest as full supply or as change only updates (COU)- though please note a COU has not currently been released.

Will the single address gazetteer database cover Northern Ireland?

Currently there are no plans to include Northern Ireland’s Pointer data.

Will it include Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File (PAF)?

Data from Royal Mail’s PAF database is a vital component of the single address gazetteer database and is in each of the AddressBase products where there has been a match confirming the address to the LLPG address

Will the multi residency information be in the AddressBase Products?

This information is present in the AddressBase Premium and AddressBase Plus products but not in the AddressBase product. It will be provided by the local authority custodians who will identify multiple occupancy addresses with a shared entrance in a structured Parent and Child hierarchy.  Royal Mail MR data will not be in the AddressBase products. 

Will the AddressBase products replace the current ADDRESS‑POINT^®, OS MasterMap Address Layer, Address Layer 2 and NLPG products?

In time yes. The supply to existing users of ADDRESS POINT, OS MasterMap Address Layer, Address Layer 2 and NLPG products will continue for a period and current users will continue to get the data they require.

How do I migrate from the current addressing products to the AddressBase products?

Process

Ordnance Survey will be working with all our customers over the coming months to migrate users of ADDRESS-POINT, OS MasterMap Address Layer, OS MasterMap Address Layer 2 and the NLPG over to the AddressBase™ product range. We have worked very closely with system providers to ensure software compatibility across all markets and raising awareness of the AddressBase™ products, through the OS Insight programme; PSMA and market workshops, so we can understand our user’s requirements.

Practicalities

The links between existing unique identifiers and the UPRN will enable many existing and legacy systems to be linked and receive a single definitive address feed – from the AddressBase products.

A large piece of work has been done to match Royal Mail’s UDPRNs to the unique identifier in AddressBase™ (UPRN).  The AddressBase™ Delivery Point Address table (which is based on the PAF file) contains both the RM UDPRN and the UPRN. The UPRN will link the Delivery Point Address table back to the BLPU.

Getting Started Guide which explains how to load the new AddressBase product.

Will the AddressBase products replace the LLPGs and LSGs?

No, these remain with the creating authority, who will provide updates to the single address gazetteer database, as they do now for the NLPG and National Street Gazetteer (NSG).

Will the AddressBase products replace the NLPG and the NSG?

In time yes, but the NLPG and the NSG data forms a core component of the single address gazetteer database and therefore, current users will be able to continue to access data compatible with that of today.

GeoPlace will continue to interact and provide the same service to authorities previously licensed under the MSA (now PSMA) and NSG statutory users in the same way as the NLPG and NSG hubs currently work today.

Will a single address gazetteer database include the NSG?

The GeoPlace Hub will continue to manage the NSG in exactly the same way as it is operated now. Any future arrangements would ensure that local government’s statutory obligations continue to be met.

I work for a local authority that produces an LLPG for our area. Will I need to start again and produce a new gazetteer?

No. Current processes and working practices for exchange of data between local authorities and the addressing hub will continue exactly as they do now. All local authority custodians have been sent a briefing paper outlining the details.

Will AddressBase products come under OS OpenData™?

There are currently no plans to make the AddressBase products created from the single address gazetteer database available for free.

Licensing

How can I license the new products and from whom?

Commercial customers will be able to license the new product through Ordnance Survey via the Framework Contract Direct Customers (FCDC) and choose which of the AddressBase products they wish to license. Partners will be able to license all 3 AddressBase products under the Framework Contract Partners (FCP) and choose which defined use contract they wish to license the products under. PSMA customers will be able to license and access the data via the PSMA web portal.

How much will the AddressBase products cost?

The license fees for all the AddressBase products are in the product portfolio price list available from 30^th September 2011, accessed via the Ordnance Survey Business licensing section or from the AddressBase products web pages.

Are AddressBase products priced at GOR level?

No; AddressBase products have not been priced at the GOR level. Two reasons for not providing this are during the customer consultation it was identified that customer would prefer to select their area of interest as this would enable the customer to choose the address coverage they actually required; also Government Office Regions have been withdrawn as an area use within government.

Will products be available under the partner Defined Use Contracts?

Yes. Ordnance Survey Licensed Partners under their FCP (including those who are currently NLPG resellers) will be able to license the AddressBase products under the defined use contracts. The AddressBase products have been included in the 5 defined use contracts: Navigation, Distribution, View Tracking and Scheduling, Printed Products and Consumer and Web Applications

Will the products be available through the new Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA)?

All addressing products, currently available (OS MasterMap Address Layer 2, OS MasterMap Address Layer, ADDRESS-POINT and the National Land and Property Gazetteer) along with the new AddressBase products will be licensed and available to the public sector through the PSMA.

Will Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) customers have to pay Royal Mail royalties separately?

There is a PAF royalty provision for PSMA customers licensing the existing address and AddressBase products (from 30^th September), which will be implemented until 31^st March 2012. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Royal Mail are still in negotiations regarding options for a future public sector PAF use license.

Will commercial customers have to pay Royal Mail royalties separately?

Royal Mail royalties will continue to apply as they do today for commercial customers address data use and these are incorporated in the licence fee however as now, a separate Royal Mail Royalty fee will be applicable to those wishing to license the AddressBase data on External Transaction Solution (ETS) terms

Who is supplying the AddressBase products?

Ordnance Survey is the distributor of the AddressBase products; all customer relationships and product supplies will be managed and fulfilled by Ordnance Survey.

Are there any third-party dataset conditions that apply to the new products?

Yes the AddressBase Premium, AddressBase Plus and AddressBase will all be subject to Royal Mail PAF terms and conditions which have been included in the product order and contract forms.