Search for the correct property
Use the postcode and address, then confirm the building shape, road position and plot before selecting the area.
Choose the level of detail
Use 1:500 for the full plot and immediate surroundings. Use 1:200 where closer site detail is needed.
Prepare it for planning
Add the application boundary, title and relevant notes. Use the plan as a base for showing proposed work or pass editable CAD mapping to the designer.
Decide which ‘site plan’ you actually need
For a planning application, a site or block plan is usually a detailed overhead drawing of the whole plot and immediate surroundings. A title plan, measured building survey, topographic survey, floor plan and drainage plan are different documents. The project and authority checklist determine which are needed.
Create a useful base and then add the proposal
Start with current detailed mapping at an appropriate scale, commonly 1:200 or 1:500, and include the complete plot plus nearby features needed to understand it. Then add project information rather than submitting the untouched map extract as a proposed site plan.
- Existing and proposed building footprints
- Site boundaries and relevant dimensions
- Access, paths, parking and turning
- Nearby buildings and windows where relevant
- Trees, hedges, hard surfaces and boundary treatment
- Levels, drainage or visibility information where the project needs it
- North, scale, sheet size, title and revision
Know when mapping is not enough
OS topographic mapping records physical features but is not a measured survey of every private detail or exact legal boundary. A tight infill site, sloping land, complex drainage, important trees or a proposal close to boundaries may need a measured topographic or building survey before the design is fixed.
Local requirements may differ. Check the current validation list for your planning authority before submitting.
Evidence checked 18 August 2026
Official sources and further reading
Planning requirements differ across the UK. The scope label on each source shows where it applies; always use the current rules for the authority receiving the application.
Questions people also ask
Can I get it from the council?
Historic planning records may contain old plans, but they may not be current, reusable or licensed for a new application.
Where can I order one?
UKPlanningMaps.com lets you search by postcode or address, preview current Ordnance Survey mapping, choose the area and scale, add red or blue boundaries and download the completed plan immediately.
Is a Land Registry title plan the same as a site plan?
No. In England and Wales it shows the general extent of a registered title; it is not a detailed proposed layout plan and normally does not establish exact legal boundaries.
Can I submit an OS map without drawing the proposal?
A map can provide the base, but a project involving layout or building work normally needs the proposed footprint and relevant site details added.
When should I commission a measured survey?
Consider one where accurate levels, boundary clearances, tree positions, drainage or detailed existing dimensions materially affect the design or planning assessment.
Ready to create your planning map?
Search by postcode or address, choose the scale and coverage, add your application boundary and download from UKPlanningMaps.com. For help with an unusual site, call 01856 898 022.
Create your plan at UKPlanningMaps.com ↗