Boundary line
Open OS product that maps every administrative boundary in detail for you
- Design stage
- Archived
- Frequency of updates
- Every 6 months
- Discussion
- Join the discussion on GitHub
- Last updated
- 21 March 2025
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
What is the 'Boundary line' consideration?
Boundary-Line lets you show on a map where the line's being drawn, right down to the level of individual properties.
Is there legislation that defines 'Boundary line'?
No
Who, in law, is responsible for the planning consideration or makes decisions about 'Boundary line'?
Local Government
Which organisations do we think should publish the data?
Ordnance Survey
Is the Boundary line a trigger?
No
Is the Boundary line something to consult during plan making?
No
Is there any Boundary line data already available?
Yes
What Boundary line data is currently available?
- Boundary-Line (publisher: Ordnance Survey; coverage: National; licence: OGL; fields: SHAPE;NAME;AREA_CODE;DESCRIPTIO;FILE_NAME;NUMBER;NUMBER0;POLYGON_ID;UNIT_ID;CODE;HECTARES;AREA;TYPE_CODE;DESCRIPT0;TRPE_COD0;DESCRIPT1)
Do we think the data should come from a single source?
Yes - Ordnance Survey
Will a data standard be required?
No
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
What other planning considerations does it interact with?
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