OS OpenSpace support

The new Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) signals the start of a new journey for OS data with changes to the data we collect, how to access it, and how you can share information with others. As part of this we are rationalising our suite of APIs and introducing some new ones, all accessible from our new data access platform, the OS Data Hub.

OS OpenSpace is built on top of OpenLayers 2.12 which is now 8 years old. We want to decouple this dependency so you can use our maps with any mapping library or GIS software. With our new APIs you can integrate our maps with modern mapping software, including OpenLayers (now on version 6), Leaflet, Mapbox, ESRI, Cadcorp and QGIS.

You can continue using your maps and API keys until August 2021 when the service will be withdrawn. 

Once the service is withdrawn your maps will stop working and no longer be accessible.

We recommend you migrate your maps before August 2021 so you can continue using Ordnance Survey maps on your website or in your applications.

We recommend OS Maps API and have created migration guides – step-by-step guides to getting started including sign-up and copy and paste code examples.

Yes, you will need to choose a plan, sign up and generate new API Keys to use the APIs. 

Yes, you will need a Premium Plan for access. It's free to sign up and start using. This plan also gives you access to other premium products, such as 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster and OS MasterMap Topography Layer.

This plan will give you up to £1,000 per calendar month of free premium data. This equates to 2 million map views per month - that is 30 million web map tiles! (254x254 pixels). And there are no daily usage limits.

You do not need to enter your card details when you sign up for this plan, but please bear in mind that if you go over the limit of £1,000, there will be a hard stop to your service.

If you decide to input payment details and exceed the free limit then you will start to pay, as per the prices on OS Data Hub.

Yes, as long as you are not using it for internal business use but are creating apps, products and services for third parties including the public.

It's free to upgrade to a Premium Plan. For company name and job title you can enter your name or indeed any word/s you like.

The maps themselves are very similar – you have access to 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster maps plus more, including 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster maps now.

We have de-coupled our new APIs from OpenLayers so they can now be used with any software or web mapping library including QGIS, ESRI, Mapbox, Leaflet or indeed OpenLayers.

WMTS is generally better for using in GIS software whereas ZXY is better for web mapping as it requires less code to integrate. 

No, our Leisure maps are only available in British National Grid (27700). Alternatively, you can choose one of our other styles such as Outdoor which is available in both 3857 and 27700. These other styles don’t contain the 25k and 50k maps but have consistent cartography through the stack. NOTE: The pricing for their Premium layers is different as they contain MasterMap data. 

Yes, thanks to Simon Large, there is a fantastic new plugin for integrating OS Maps API and overlaying your own markers and routes.