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How Ordnance Survey

mapping

can benefit Local Councils

Mapping can help to bring vital benefits to local communities through effective improvements in public service delivery. Many Town, Parish & Community Councils need mapping to support their business activies, such as managing grounds maintenance, reviewing local planning applications and asset management.

See how other Town & Parish Councils are already using Ordnance Survey mapping.

What does Ordnance Survey do?

Ordnance Survey is Great Britain’s national mapping agency. In addition to producing our paper maps we create and maintain the most accurate and up-to-date geographical data, relied on by government, businesses and individuals.

What is geographical data?

Geographical data (geospatial data), stores information about the location, shape and attributes of real world objects, such as roads and houses. This enables computers to manipulate, update and analyse the data in different ways. To benefit from geographical data you need to use it in conjunction with a Geographic Information System (GIS).

 

There are some very useful tools on our support page, including videos explaining the National Grid and understanding scale.

How can Ordnance Survey help local councils?

Public sector organisations in England and Wales now have access to Ordnance Survey mapping data under a single agreement known as the Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA).

The PSMA commenced on the 1 April 2011 and gives Town, Parish & Community Councils the opportunity to access geographical data free at the point of use.

The data is accessed via our online ordering pages. The PSMA portfolio includes a wide range of datasets of different scales and functions.

The licence allows members to use our mapping to help them deliver their public services. This means you can share information with other members and organisations outside the agreement, such as infrastructure bodies. However, it does not allow you to commercially exploit the data. Further information on our PSMA Licensing page.

Town, Parish and Community Councils using Ordnance Survey mapping

There are already over 1100 local councils signed up to the PSMA and more signing up every week. 

See how Dauntsey Parish Council has benefitted from Ordnance Survey maps, by allowing them to analyse flood risks and impacts in their area.

 

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For general enquiries, complaints, feedback or suggestions, email: customerservices@ordnancesurvey.co.uk or call us on 08456 05 05 05