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Designing planning and housing data

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Planning consideration

Boundary line

Open OS product that maps every administrative boundary in detail for you

Design stage
Archived
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Synonyms
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Legislation
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Expected number of records
Unknown
Frequency of updates
Every 6 months
Useful links
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Technical specification
No specification added

Background information

Each planning consideration we work on passes through the stages of our design process, where we research and answer specific questions to help us collect more information.

Backlog

  • Who asked for 'Boundary line' data?

    The Geospatial Commission published a list of 65 datasets to help the planning process. Within this list, Council Wards was recommended, but a national dataset was found through OS which captured council wards alongside other, being "Boundary Lines."

  • What is the driver for the request?

    Other

  • Which 2024 focus area does the request support?

    • Modern planning software

Screen

Research

  • Do we understand the lifecycle of a Boundary line?

    No

  • Do we understand how the data is created/produced?

    N/A

  • Where will or should the data be used?

    N/A

  • Boundary-Line-Product-Information

    • Area measurements
    • Civil parish (England) and community (Wales)
    • County
    • Distinctive names
    • District
    • Electoral division (county and unitary)
    • English region
    • Extent of the realm (EOR): either mean low water mark (England and Wales), mean low water springs mark (Scotland) or seaward boundary extensions
    • Greater London Authority
    • Greater London Authority Assembly constituencies (the London proportional representation voting areas)
    • GSS codes in England, Wales and Scotland for all units, with the exception of Greater London Authority, county electoral divisions and non-civil-parish areas
    • London borough (including the county of the City of London)
    • Mean high water mark (England and Wales) and / or mean high water springs mark (Scotland): both are abbreviated to MHW in product documentation
    • Metropolitan district
    • Scottish Parliament constituency and electoral region
    • Unitary authority
    • Unique administrative unit, link and polygon identifiers
    • Ward (district, unitary, metropolitan and London borough)
    • Welsh Parliament constituency and electoral region
    • Westminster (parliamentary) constituency

  • Who are the statutory consultees for Boundary line?

    N/A

  • Other than the statutory consultees who are the primary users of Boundary line? How do we expect them to use Boundary line?

    N/A

  • What are the planning needs for this data?

    Depending on the area of planning, the planning authority varies. Having this dataset will help display these bodies.

  • Who are the types of users who might benefit from having access to Boundary line data?

    N/A

  • What are some potential uses of Boundary line data?

    Boundary Lines might be useful for statistical purposes, when looking at population and demographic changes.

  • What's the value of adding Boundary line data to the platform?

    N/A

  • From what we have learnt so far are there any risks to making Boundary line data available?

    N/A

3 updates

  • Paul Downey (21 March 2025)

    This isn't a consideration, it's an OS data product.

  • Kieran Wint (03 September 2024)

    The OS boundary line dataset identified is updated twice a year

  • Colm Britton (26 June 2024)

    When we were looking at the Council Wards consideration we discovered the Boundary line dataset. This dataset includes Council Wards.

    Given Boundary Lines is an available national dataset that we might be able to get on to the platform we decide to create a separate consideration to record what we learn about it.

Last updated: 2025-03-21 14:24:48