Planning map knowledge centre
UK planning
map guides.
Find out which plan to order, which scale to use and how to avoid common submission problems. Each guide links to the official sources it uses.
Start here
Which maps do I need for planning permission?
Separate location plans, block plans, architectural drawings and supporting documents.
Read the complete guide →Before you submitThe 12-point planning map checklist
Check scale, boundaries, context, licensing and consistency across your pack.
Use the checklist →Choose correctlyPlanning map scales explained
Compare 1:2,500, 1:1,250, 1:500 and 1:200 without the jargon.
Compare scales →Find the answer you need
Search planning map guides
Search all 38 guides or choose the task you are working on.
Showing 38 of 38 guides
Choose the right plan
Work out whether you need a location plan, block plan, site plan or a combination.
Maps for Planning Permission: Which Plans Do You Need?
A clear guide to the location plans, block plans and other drawings commonly needed for a UK planning application.
Read guide →02 · Plan comparisons · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Location Plan vs Block Plan: What Is the Difference?
Compare location plans and block plans by purpose, scale, detail and planning application use.
Read guide →03 · Plan comparisons · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Location Plan vs Site Plan: A Simple Comparison
Understand the difference between a site location plan and a detailed site plan for planning permission.
Read guide →04 · Block plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Block Plan Requirements for Planning Applications
What a block plan must show, which scale to use and how to prepare existing and proposed site information.
Read guide →05 · Site plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Site Layout Plan: Meaning, Scale and Requirements
What a site layout plan is and how it relates to site plans, block plans and proposed development drawings.
Read guide →06 · Site plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Existing and Proposed Site Plans: What Changes?
How to present the current site and proposed development clearly on planning block plans.
Read guide →Scales and boundaries
Choose a suitable scale and mark application and ownership boundaries clearly.
Planning Map Scales Explained: 1:1,250 to 1:200
Choose the right scale for a location plan, block plan or detailed site plan.
Read guide →02 · Map scales · Evidence checked 18 Aug 20261:1,250 Location Plan: Size, Coverage and Use
When to choose a 1:1,250 location plan and what it shows on A4 or A3 paper.
Read guide →03 · Map scales · Evidence checked 18 Aug 20261:2,500 Location Plan for Rural and Larger Sites
When a planning application needs a 1:2,500 location plan and how to show large or rural sites clearly.
Read guide →04 · Map scales · Evidence checked 18 Aug 20261:500 Block Plan: What It Shows and When to Use It
A guide to 1:500 block plans for planning applications, including scale, coverage and required detail.
Read guide →05 · Map scales · Evidence checked 18 Aug 20261:200 Site Plan: Detailed Planning Map Guide
When to use a 1:200 site plan and how it differs from a 1:500 block plan.
Read guide →06 · Planning boundaries · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Red Line Boundary on a Planning Map: What to Include
How to draw the red line around a planning application site, including gardens, drives and access to the highway.
Read guide →07 · Planning boundaries · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Blue Line Boundary on a Location Plan Explained
When to use a blue line on a planning location plan and how it differs from the red application boundary.
Read guide →08 · Rural sites · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Rural Location Plans: Farms, Fields and Large Sites
How to choose scale, coverage and boundaries for a rural planning application.
Read guide →Create and print
Create, annotate and print a plan without losing its stated scale or clarity.
How to Create a Location Plan: Step-by-Step
Create a planning-ready location plan with the correct scale, red line, north arrow and map licensing.
Read guide →02 · Location plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026How to Get a Location Plan for a Planning Application
A quick UK guide to ordering, checking and downloading the correct planning location plan.
Read guide →03 · Site plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026How Do I Obtain a Site Plan of My Property?
Find, create and download a site or block plan for a house, plot or planning application.
Read guide →04 · Practical help · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026How to Print a Planning Map to Scale
Print a location or block plan at the correct paper size without accidental resizing.
Read guide →Submit and fix problems
Check your application pack, meet upload requirements and correct validation problems.
Site Location Plan Requirements: Complete Checklist
What a UK site location plan needs to show for a planning application, including scale, boundaries and context.
Read guide →02 · Planning applications · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Application Documents: Maps, Drawings and Reports
Understand the different documents in a planning application and who normally prepares each one.
Read guide →03 · Planning Portal · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Portal Location Plan: What to Upload
Prepare a clear location plan PDF for a Planning Portal application and avoid common upload and validation problems.
Read guide →04 · Submission checklists · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Map Checklist: 12 Checks Before Submission
Check your location plan and block plan before uploading a UK planning application, including how to verify print scale.
Read guide →05 · Validation problems · Evidence checked 18 Aug 202610 Location Plan Mistakes That Delay Applications
Avoid red-line, scale, context, licensing and print errors on a planning location plan.
Read guide →06 · Validation problems · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Council Rejected Your Planning Map? What to Fix
Common reasons location and block plans fail validation and a practical resubmission checklist.
Read guide →Project guides
See the maps commonly needed for extensions, new builds, access work and rural development.
Planning Maps for a House Extension
Which location and block plans are commonly needed for rear, side and two-storey extension applications.
Read guide →02 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Maps for a Dropped Kerb or New Driveway
A location and site plan checklist for vehicle crossover, driveway and access applications.
Read guide →03 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Maps for a Garden Room, Garage or Outbuilding
Which maps and boundaries to use for an outbuilding planning application or lawful development certificate.
Read guide →04 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Planning Maps for a New Build or Development Site
Location plans, block plans, CAD mapping and layout drawings for new dwellings and larger development sites.
Read guide →05 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Rural Development: Planning Maps for a New House
Which location plans, site plans and mapping details are needed for a new house in a rural location.
Read guide →06 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Rural Development: Extension to an Existing House
Planning map requirements for extending an existing rural house, cottage or farmhouse.
Read guide →07 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Rural Development: Change of Use Planning Maps
Location plans, boundaries and site plans for rural change-of-use planning applications.
Read guide →08 · Project guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Rural Development: Planning Maps for a New Shed
Which planning maps are needed for a new agricultural, forestry or rural storage shed.
Read guide →Buying and formats
Compare prices, free options, PDF and CAD formats, and the available mapping products.
Where Can I Buy a Location Plan?
Where to obtain a correctly licensed UK location plan and what to check before purchasing.
Read guide →02 · Buying guides · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026How Much Does a Location Plan Cost? UK Price Guide
Understand location plan prices, what changes the cost and how to avoid paying for the wrong scale or format.
Read guide →03 · Location plans · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Can I Get a Free Site Location Plan?
What free site plan options can and cannot provide, and why planning submissions normally need licensed scaled mapping.
Read guide →04 · Ordnance Survey · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026Ordnance Survey MasterMap for Planning Applications
What OS MasterMap is, why planning maps use it and how licensing differs from a web-map screenshot.
Read guide →05 · File formats · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026PDF vs CAD Planning Maps: Which Format Do You Need?
Choose between PDF, DWG and DXF mapping for planning submission, design and professional workflows.
Read guide →06 · File formats · Evidence checked 18 Aug 2026DWG and DXF Planning Maps Explained
How editable Ordnance Survey CAD maps are used by architects, designers and planning professionals.
Read guide →Know what you need?