Latest news with #OrdnanceSurvey
RTÉ News
a day ago
- General
- RTÉ News
The story behind the benchmarks hiding in plain sight around Ireland
Analysis: The Ordnance Survey benchmarks chiselled into buildings, walls and bridges were originally used to measure height across Ireland Ordnance Survey (OS) benchmarks, also known as crow's feet, have marked our cultural landscape for nearly two centuries. They're often hidden in plain sight in our towns, cities and rural parts of Ireland, but do you know their purpose and what do they mean to us today as heritage? On April 8th 1837 during low water spring tide, the OS took a height measurement at Poolbeg Lighthouse in Dublin Bay. This fundamental reference point of 20.90 feet became known as the Irish Ordnance Datum. From here, between 1839 and 1843, the OS established the Principal Spirit Lines of Levelling, measuring height and inscribing 'bench marks' into the fabric of the island. The first of these ran from Poolbeg, through Dublin to Monasterevin along the Grand Canal, followed by an expanding network of spirit lines across the country. How did they take measurements? Teams comprising Royal Sappers, Miners, civil assistants and typically three labourers measured height across the country. Two labourers managed staves and lay chains, while another carried the equipment and provided shelter with an umbrella. Following major transport routes, teams recorded approximately five spot height measurements per square kilometre in rural areas, with more frequent readings in urban environments. Stone structures along roads were favoured for bench mark placement, though in remote locations, field stones or even wooden posts were used instead. By law, surveyors had the right to enter any property to take measurements. Surveyors used a cold chisel to carve a horizontal line typically one to two feet above ground into vertical surfaces or on horizontal faces such as quays. An angle iron was inserted to form a 'bench', upon which a levelling rod was placed and observation and height measured relative to a nearby known 'spot height'. Alternatively, a finger sized hole was cut instead and occasionally fitted with a rivet or bolt. Branch or side levels were extended from the main levelling routes, additionally using nearby trigonometrical stations to determine height. Surveyors employed standard backsight and foresight measurements at intervals logging the height in their field notebooks before dispatching them to Dublin. To maintain accuracy and prevent collusion, each line was measured twice by separate teams moving in opposite directions. A broad arrow, typically four to six inches across, was carved beneath each levelling line to help future surveyors relocate it. The bench mark locations later appeared on published OS maps, identified by a crow's foot symbol, their height in imperial feet, and occasionally accompanying descriptive text. This ensured open access to height data for anyone who required it. What do they look like and where can you find them? Benchmarks vary in type, form and quality depending on where, when and by whom they were placed. Most are 'cut' marks, known colloquially as a crow's foot or sappers' mark, and featuring a characteristic upward pointing 'broad arrow' (or inverted pheon) beneath the horizontal line cut or indentation. This was originally used by the British Government to denote ownership of property (from objects and buildings to animals and even people!) and was adopted by the OS as a recognisable and easily carved symbol. Primarily chiselled into the vertical stonework of buildings, bridges or walls, benchmarks also appear on horizontal surfaces such as doorsteps, windowsills and quays, and sometimes taking alternative forms such as plates, brackets, rivets, bolts and spikes. What is the heritage value of benchmarks? Although benchmarks were cut for over 150 years, they were superseded in the 1990s by modern digital mapping techniques. Today, they serve as tangible links to the past, embodying a legacy of scientific ingenuity and progress in Ireland and beyond and over nearly two centuries they have secured a place in Ireland's fabric and folklore. Yet their heritage is complex. Rooted in British military history, benchmarks and particularly the broad arrow, can be seen not only as tools of measurement, but also through the lens of contested heritage as exhibiting authority and ownership. Over time, many have been vandalised or removed, and examples of heritage erasure remain. This tension is captured alongside folklore in a meeting recalled by surveyor Robin Riddihough in OSi News (1998). While working in Co Mayo in the mid 20th-century, he encountered an elderly lady who referred to them as the 'Devil's' mark '. "I remember when I was a little girl seeing figures up on the hillsides. My father told me they were sent by the Devil and wherever they went they left an arrow cut into the stone. When they were gone, we were told to smash the marks so that the Devil could not return. You'll not find those marks around these parts!" Benchmarks are now recognised as remarkable feats of scientific engineering that helped shape our understanding of Ireland's terrain. They were instrumental to planners and engineers in construction and continue to offer crucial insight into topography across the island. In the face of a rapidly changing climate and rising sea levels, these marks provide valuable data for tracking change over time. However, OS benchmarks in Ireland lack protected status and many have been disappeared over time due to demolition, redevelopment and environmental change. Their total number was never recorded and therefore the extent of this loss remains unknown. They undoubtedly carry a complex legacy tied to Ireland's colonial past, but the early Ordnance Survey's pioneering work laid the foundation for modern mapping and surveying and significantly advanced understanding of Ireland's landscape. There is an urgent need for dialogue on protecting and preserving this rapidly disappearing heritage.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
‘The only thing that gets me out of my tent': the camping essentials you need (and what you don't)
Packing for a camping trip isn't easy, especially if you're not an experienced adventurer. Newbie campers often overpack while simultaneously leaving more useful items at home. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. As a lifelong city dweller, my lack of knowhow has been exposed on trips with my camping-savvy family in the US. It turns out that House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski and a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker aren't must-haves on a four-day wilderness hike. Who knew? An extra water bottle would have been a better use of that space, something I learned through a series of hardships. For guidance on this topic, I asked experienced campers – including parents with young kids, festival-goers, outdoor guides and lone wild campers – for their must-pack items. Whether you're taking a £20 tent to a muddy field, glamping in a yurt or going fully off-grid, this list is sure to feature an item you'll be thankful you threw in the bag. For a comprehensive list of essentials, you should always consider the particulars of your upcoming trip. For more help on getting started, I recommend practical checklists from organisations such as the Ordnance Survey and the Camping and Caravanning Club. Northcore Kick Back hammock £34.95 at SurfSurfSurf This hammock is great. If you're camping in, or near, a woodland, you can quickly set it up between a couple of trees to read a book, listen to the birds or take a nap. Dave, north-west London Hennessy Expedition zip hammock £139.95 at Hennessy My hammock is ultra-light compared with a conventional tent; it can be fully zipped open, or closed and covered by the accompanying tarp. It comes with webbing straps to prevent any damage to trees. While my hammock is snug – and not the cheapest option – it's a really novel, comfortable and fun shelter to take on overnight adventures or multi-day expeditions, and an excellent choice when camping in wooded areas. Joe, Cambridgeshire The Filter's top pick for camping: Black Diamond Storm 500R £54.95 at WildBounds£65 at Cotswold Outdoor The Filter's top pick overall: Petzl Swift RL £84.99 at Decathlon A head torch is a non-negotiable. Its usefulness compared with its weight and cost is unmatched. After dark, it's much harder to do basic tasks such as pitching up, prepping a fire or nipping out of the tent in the middle of the night for a loo break. Get one. Adam, East Sussex Everbeam H6 Pro headlamp £16.99 at Amazon There are two main reasons I love this compact little Everbeam torch. First, it's rechargeable via USB, so easy to keep topped up, either at home or on the go using a battery pack. Second, it has an adjustable angle, so no more tilting your head back and forth; just change the angle of the lamp while it's on your head! Also, it comes with a great carry case, protecting it from damage when you just chuck it in your bag. It has two white brightness settings and a red light for when you need a low-light option. Dave, north-west London The Filter's top pick: MSR Hubba Hubba NX £476 at Cotswold Outdoors£476 at Snow and Rock I do like a minimal tent. I'm only using it for sleep after all, so I don't need fancy extras. And I like the feeling of being fully enclosed. A small tent is all a single camper needs, and it provides more shelter than one of those military-style bivi bags, which I'm not a fan of. Michael, Shropshire Coleman Darwin 2 Plus £89.99 at Mountain Warehouse£82.52 at Amazon I love this Coleman tent's extended porch cover. You can leave your pack and shoes outside your tent, so you get less muck inside. This leaves plenty of room indoors for a couple of people, plus a medium-sized dog. The canopy keeps your stuff dry if it rains in the night. Saskia, west London For more, read our guide to the best tents for camping The Filter's favourite chair for two: Kelty Loveseat £130 at Mountain Warehouse£130 at Ellis Brigham My partner and I have enjoyed using this double-camping chair from Kelty for years. It's sturdier and higher quality than the typical camping chairs you may be used to, and it's comfortable enough for one person to curl up on and have a nap. Kelty also makes an Essential single version of this chair, as well as a Deluxe Lounge one, and all are available in the same smart colour schemes. Luke, Watford For more, read our guide to the best camping chairs Anker Soundcore Boom 3i £99.99 at Soundcore£99.99 at Amazon This Bluetooth speaker is more than just waterproof: it floats, it's saltwater resistant, and it can even self-right itself in choppy waters. The Boom 3i packs a hell of a punch too, with powerful bass and a 50W/96dB speaker. The RGB lights add to the fun, bringing a party atmosphere to your pitch, but you can always turn them off if you find them tacky. Remember to always adhere to your campsite's noise rules and regulations: if there's a designated quiet time, respect it – or else incur the wrath of every other family sharing the site. Tom, north-west London The Filter's top pick: Coleman Pro £129.99 at Amazon Coleman 15l Performance cool box £35 at Argos My mates all said it was a waste of space to bring a massive cooler on a two-night camping trip. But who was laughing at the end of the day … when I was the only one with drinkable beer? Coolers aren't even expensive, and when you factor in the savings from not having to drive out of camp to the nearest petrol station to pick up a few cold cans, it's more than worth the initial spend. William, South Yorkshire For more, read our guide to the best cool boxes The Filter's top pick: MSR Switch £115 at LD Mountain Centre£114.75 at Amazon Jetboil MightyMo £75 at Blacks Jetboil MicroMo £134.95 at WildBounds A Jetboil is essential for us whenever we go camping. It doesn't matter if it's a family outing or a week-long wilderness trek – the Jetboil is the first thing we pack. It's lightweight and can bring water to the boil faster than any other camping stove we've tried. I'm always grateful to have it when I'm prepping dehydrated meals at the end of a long day's hike. Don't forget to bring a spare fuel canister. Tommy, Wisconsin, US For more, read our guide to the best camping stoves Blue Mountain Starlight 150L lantern £12 at Cotswold Outdoor £12 at Snow and Rock It's a small thing, but the few pounds I spent on this little lantern were more than worth it. So useful after dark when you need to look for something in your tent, or get up during the night. It also adds a cosy vibe to your haven in the wilderness. Saskia, west London Nilaqua no-rinse body wash, 500ml £6.99 at Victoria Health£6.99 at Boots Clean Life no-rinse foaming body wash, 237ml £4.66 at iHerb£9.99 at Amazon The best recommendation I ever got for camping was to get a no-rinse foam wash. It's mainly used by carers, and it cleans you up without water, so it's worth its weight in gold when you can't shower. It was a life-saver for my pits at El Dorado festival last year. Mel, south London Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Snugpak The Sleeping Bag WGTE £42.69 at Amazon For UK camping, from spring right through to early autumn, you don't need anything too hardcore. The Sleeping Bag by Snugpak is exceptionally snug and comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. Officially, it is rated suitable in climates from -7C. At less than £50, it's a great buy. Luke, Watford Exped Schnozzel pump bag £26.96 at Alpine Trek The Exped pump bag is my must-have if you want to pack light, since it makes getting ready for bed way easier. First off, it lets you inflate your sleeping mat quickly – and without moisture getting into the mat. Then, it doubles as a waterproof sack to keep your phone (and spare underwear) dry. Molly, Minnesota, US Kelty Cosmic Si Mummy sleeping pad £56 at Decathlon£69 at Mountain Warehouse Maybe you don't want to bother with inflating your sleeping mat at all, in which case I can recommend the Cosmic Si Mummy. To get this mat ready, all you need to do is lay it out flat, unscrew the valve and … actually, that's it. Come back later, tighten up the valve and go to sleep. In my experience, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to fully inflate, but if you're in a rush, you can still inflate it manually. It's comfy to lie on and easy to pack down too. Tom, north-west London For more, read our guide to the best camping mattresses and sleeping mats The Filter's top pick: Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-port 20k £79.99 at Argos£79.99 at Amazon Juice Eco Max+ 24,000mAh portable power bank £34.99 at Argos I got this power bank before a long weekend of climbing and camping in Suffolk. It kept three phones charged up enough for the three-day trip, which is all you can ask for. There are more expensive ones that will charge your phone faster, but I wanted one that specifically charged up to three devices at once and had a large capacity. This one does the job perfectly. Tom, north-west London For more, read our guide to the best power banks Halfords Advanced 2l jump starter power bank £60.99 at Halfords Halfords 6-in-1 jump starter power pack £99.99 at Halfords You may never actually need it, but trust me – I'm speaking from experience – you don't want to be stuck in the middle of an empty campsite in the New Forest with a dead car battery, in the rain and sleet. One of those things that's better to have and not need than the other way around. Tom, north-west London Sea to Summit collapsible X-pot 4l £79.99 at Sub Zero Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight collapsible 2.2l pouring pot £62.95 at Outdoor Action£90 at Cotswold Outdoor Sea to Summit makes practical cooking pots with silicone sides that pack down flat for easy transport. The lid can be used like a sieve to pour out excess liquid when cooking pasta, plus these pots double up well as basins to do your washing-up in. Luke, Watford Lifeventure all-purpose biodegradable soap From £4.99 at Lifeventure£4.99 at Amazon An all-purpose soap is good for cleaning your body, doing the washing-up or anything that needs a quick de-griming. Once, I didn't wash at a festival, and my friends refused to stay in the same tent as me (although now that I think about it, that was kind of a bonus). Alba, Norfolk The Filter's top pick for women: Lowa Renegade Evo GTX £219.95 at Cotswold Outdoor The Filter's top pick for men: La Sportiva TX5 From £210.99 at Amazon Danner Women's Trail 2650 Campo £110 at Naked Ape Danner Men's Trail 2650 Mid GTX £200 at Ellis Brigham I have a pair of Danner boots that I always wear when I go hiking or camping. My whole family loves Danner. They're the most reliable shoes for hiking as far as I'm concerned, with a snug fit that makes you feel more balanced as you make your way through the forests and hills. They also come in lots of colours. Gwyneth, south-west London For more, read our guide to the best hiking boots for men and women GSI Mini espresso set 1 cup £41.20 at Rock + Run You can't start a day without a decent cup of coffee in your system. Little coffee makers such as these are awesome for camping because they're easy to clean and pack away when you're done. The promise of a proper espresso from one of these is the only thing that gets me out of my tent in the morning. Matteo, north London Flip 7 £9.95 at Zatu Games£13.99 at Waterstones If you go camping with your family, you should buy the game Flip 7. It's our new favourite filler game. It's easy to play, you can teach it in a couple of minutes, but you can play it for hours! It's just fine for three players, but it can go up to 12 or more. It's also cheap. You don't even need to look into it, just buy it. Trust me, you're going to love it. It's the greatest card game of all time. It says it right on the box. Clayton, Wisconsin, US Those little bug zappers that you can hang in your tent or place on a table. When bugs are thick enough to be an issue, it can't get all of them. You'll inevitably end up with some mosquito bites anyway. Stick to using good old-fashioned bug spray, and don't leave your tent unzipped if there are lots of critters about! Saskia, west London The 'overnight' bug spray that you fully saturate your clothes in, only for the effects to wear off in less than a day. The bad smell sticks around for longer! Bill, South Dakota, US Oversized, multi-room tents are just a waste of space and money. Why do you need to walk around fully upright in your tent? You won't be spending that long in there anyway. Matteo, north London
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Telegraph
Mapped: Britain's quietest beauty spots, ideal for a summer getaway
We've all been there, especially at this time of year, when the sun shines and the school break up; gridlocked on a country lane, elbow to elbow on the beach or queuing for ice cream in one of Britain's pretty seaside villages. Believe it or not, our nation, despite being the 32nd most densely populated in the world, still has a wealth of nooks, corners and some entire regions that are relatively unoccupied. In search of such solitude, Ordnance Survey has compiled data revealing the emptiest parts of the UK, designated by the number of postcode addresses. We've studied the data – overlooking the curious inclusion of numerous addresses in the City of London (see more below) – and plucked what we think are the supreme beauty spots across England, Scotland and Wales. If you want to be alone this summer, then look no further: England St Agnes Isles of Scilly With just 82 registered addresses, this, the least-known and least-visited of the Isles of Scilly, is, by OS definitions, the emptiest spot in England, Scotland and Wales. The only caveat is that the island is only half a mile long and a third of a mile wide. Only reachable by a 75-minute boat ride from St Mary's, the main island in the group (£14 return), St Agnes is threaded with narrow footpaths, that taper past wild heathland and craggy coastlines, from where you can spot dolphins, Manx shearwaters and grey seals. Pick up some homemade ice cream, butter and clotted cream from Troytown Farm (camping from £12.50 per adult per night) and pick up local jewellery and art pieces at the Pot Buoys gallery, before sipping on a pint of Turk's Ale, overlooking the harbour at the Turks Head – a pub that was formerly the island's custom house. Milton and Waterbeach Cambridgeshire Milton and Waterbeach sit just outside the top 10 emptiest places in England compiled by OS, but it's the quietest spot on the English mainland if you exclude the parts of the City of London listed. The villages have a postcode count, according to OS, of 342, though it'll feel like even less when you're here. Predictably, for somewhere on the fringes of the Fens, the landscape is flat, with nothing but sugar beet, wheat and barley fields and cinematically gargantuan skies above. Waterbeach is the more attractive of the two villages, with the River Cam babbling alongside it; you can cycle from here directly into Cambridge in about 45 minutes. Check into the Old School House (doubles from £110, B&B) a red-brick Gothic Revival building just off the village green. With a postal address count of just 993, OS grade these two Hebridean outposts as the emptiest spots in all of Scotland's mainland and inhabited islands. These islands are a wilderness of tufted beaches, treeless, rock-strewn hills and a unique species of lavender-tinted flowers, supposedly seeded by Bonnie Prince Charlie. There are only 1,200 people on Barra and Vatersay, which are linked by a causeway and reachable via a five-hour ferry from Oban (return from £32). The best spot for a solitary stroll is on the north-eastern road, which winds past rocky bays to a statue of Finbarr, the island's Irish patron saint. The Heathbank Hotel (doubles from £320, B&B) offers cosy rooms and a local menu. Shetland West Shetland Islands The Shetland West postcode area encompasses a sizeable stretch of mainland Shetland, from Tresta to Sandness and Aith to Skeld. But this postal demarcation also takes in one of the most remote inhabited places in Europe; the tiny, wind-blasted island of Foula. Only reachable by a thrice weekly, two-hour-long ferry journey from the Shetland mainland harbour of Walls (from £16 return), Foula is uncommonly dramatic, with some truly immense cliffs. Fourteen miles of often turbulent ocean separate Foula from anywhere and, on a bad day, winds of quite astonishing ferocity (known to locals as 'flans') rip across the island. Arctic terns, razorbills and gannets all call this outpost home, along with around 38 people. But it's the great skuas – the largest colony in Europe – that make the most noise. Bed in at the Ristie (01595 753281; from £40 per night), a beautifully converted old croft house on the north end of the island that sleeps up to eight people. North Uist Outer Hebrides Easily slipping into Scotland's top 10 of emptiest places, North Uist has a partially drowned-looking landscape, with much of the landscape submerged in lochan-peppered, peaty expanses. By sea, take a ferry from Uig on the Isle of Skye (one hour 45 minutes, return tickets from £12.30), which docks in Lochmaddy; a pretty harbour overlooked by the peaks of North and South Lee. Deerstalking and trout and salmon fishing are the main draws for the few visitors that make it here, but less bloodthirsty serenity is available at the RSPB Balranald (free entry). Here, amid grasslands smothered with daisies and buttercups, sand dunes and a rocky foreshore, you can spot corn buntings, Arctic terns and, if you're lucky, corncrakes, for whom Uist is one of their last UK habitats. Check in at Hamersay Hotel (doubles from £195, B&B), a modern hotel with an outstanding restaurant serving up Uist scallops with chorizo butter and, if you dare, haggis pakora. North Isles Orkney Islands There are barely 1,800 addresses in the entirety of the northern sweep of the Orkney Islands, which includes Papa Westray, Rousay, Sanday, Eday, Stronsay and North Ronaldsay. It's the last of these outposts that you should head to for some real solitude. Reachable by ferry from the Orkney capital Lerwick (two hours 40 minutes, from £18 return), North Ronaldsay, with a population of around 50, is mostly visited by ornithologists who come to spot guillemots, cormorants and waders from the island observatory. There's a guest house on the same site offering compact rooms and half-board dinner (doubles from £82). With the island measuring only three miles by two, it's an easy walk to the New Lighthouse. It's the tallest land-built lighthouse in Britain, built in 1854, topping out at just under 140 feet (entry £7). Loch Tuath/Ulva Isle of Mull Mull is one of the more popular islands in the Hebrides, but very few people live, or indeed visit, its tiny sister island of Ulva, across Loch Tuath. In the 19th century, an estimated 850 people lived here, almost all employed in the extraction and export of kelp for use in the making of soaps and glass. The 1846 potato famine, some brutal evictions and the collapse of the kelp market combined to leave Ulva in its present state, with ruined crofters' cottages lining the deserted lanes. Bought by the remaining island community in 2018, repopulation is a key aim under new community ownership. In the meantime, deer and mountain hares will be your main company if you walk among the dense woods and heather moorland. Bed down for the night at Whitetail – a Mongolian-style yurt (from £69 per night) complete with mountain views, an indoor fire and a sauna. Wales Pembroke Dock Pembrokeshire Dismiss all comparisons with Dover or Harwich – this international ferry port is about as peaceful as a commercial harbour could ever be. More solitary pleasures can be found 40 minutes' walk away in in neighbouring Pembroke; home to Pembroke Castle (entry £11). The 75-foot-high keep is the highlight, with oak-beamed halls and steep, spiral staircases. Llanuwchllyn Gywnedd Gwynedd dominates the top 10 of empty places in Wales according to OS, with the village of Llanuwchllyn commanding an address count of a mere 649. The atmosphere here, at the southern end of Lake Bala, is very different to that of the eponymous town at the northern end of this ribbon-shaped expanse, which can get busy in summer months. Stick to the south end and the noisiest attraction is the rather genteel Bala Lake Railway, which chugs around the fringes of the water. Afterwards, make a beeline for the Yr Eagles pub, a handsome hostelry, which was bought by the community in 2023 and serves up Snowdonia Ale as well as doubling up as a village grocery store. Spend the night at the Bwch Yn Uchaf (doubles from £100), a 19th-century home that was built when the railway was on the mainline Welsh rail network. Dolbenmaen Gwynedd With the heights of Snowdonia as a backdrop, the tiny community of Dolbenmaen makes an ideal base for a stroll along the River Dwyfor with its banks lined with alder, willows and meadows. Keep a look out for buzzards and red kites, before visiting the ruins of the modest Dolbenmaen Castle. It's also worth visiting the David Lloyd George Museum (entry £8.50) in nearby Llanystumdwy. Housed in the former Prime Minister's childhood home (his uncle was the village cobbler), this tells the story of the rapid rise of the main from deepest Wales to prime minister. Bed in for the night at the Bwthyn Ael Y Bryn (from £302 per night).
Edinburgh Reporter
7 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
How Ordnance Survey Maps Assist in Navigating UK Planning Regulations
In the UK, proper advance planning is undertaken prior to entering property development, especially when it comes to planning regulations. One mistake in boundary identification or misrepresentation of a neighbouring infrastructure can halt a whole project. The most important fact about proper preparation is the use of UK planning maps, specifically Ordnance Survey (OS) maps at a scale of 1:1250. They not only provide a visual representation of the proposed site but also offer legal clarity, allowing one to proceed through the application process with confidence. Photo by Richard Bell on Unsplash Why 1:1250 Scale Maps Are Essential 1:1250 maps are perfectly scaled, showing the details of the land parcel plans, buildings and public routes without being too detailed or too generic. Developers, architects, and surveyors use this scale in the presentation of plans because it is detailed enough to portray physical buildings and boundary lines, and it also encompasses the surrounding area to show access and other features in the vicinity. This scale is typically required by local authorities when a planning application is being initiated. It conforms to national mapping standards, and that is why it has been considered as the default reference by property professionals in the UK. Legal Boundaries and Site Ownership Before even writing a proposal, one should define clear boundaries of a site as the first step in developing a proposal. OS maps indicate the present legal boundaries of parcels of land, therefore eliminating disputes or confusion. These boundaries define the legal framework within which designs, ownership rights, and the right to develop are established. Without these visuals, it is easy to under- or overestimate the size of a property or encroachment. This kind of misalignment not only delays the process of giving the permissions but also opens the doors to legal challenges once the permission is granted. Relationship to Existing Infrastructure It is as important to know what is in a proposed site as it is to know what is around it. When a new access road, utility connection or pedestrian route is created, information on the existing structure is needed. The transport links, footpaths, green spaces, and service corridors are indicated in Ordnance Survey information, and all of these will affect the council's decision concerning accessibility and integration. The local authorities do not consider developments in isolation, but rather in terms of their impact on public services. Recommendations made on an OS base map will align with the proposed and available options. Planning Portal Compliance and Submission Requirements The majority of UK councils require that planning applications be submitted via the Planning Portal or to local authorities, both of which stipulate that approved mapping standards must be used. Ordnance Survey 1:1250 maps fit these requirements and eliminate the possibility of rejections due to technical formatting or unsupported data sources. Submission of non-compliant maps typically results in the rejection of applications, which is a waste of time and causes tension in the project schedule. An OS-compliant map is preferable to select at the outset to ensure the procedure's efficiency. Visibility of Constraints and Designations The type of land use, such as a conservation area or flood zone, also affects development potential. Such information can be overlaid on an OS base, allowing these considerations to be taken into account in the early design rather than requiring revisions. Even though these overlays are based on additional datasets, the base OS map gives the spatial accuracy needed to understand how constraints interrelate with the development site. Such accuracy is lacking, and one can easily overlook key planning factors that may result in rejections. Multi-Stakeholder Communication and Transparency Project planning can involve a combination of architects, consultants, legal teams, and representatives of local authorities. A common, standardised map enables everyone to negotiate proposals on a common visual basis. This shared understanding accelerates the collaboration process and minimises confusion regarding the location, size, or other aspects of the site. It is also useful for conveying proposals in a clear manner to non-technical stakeholders, such as community groups or funding bodies, who may struggle to interpret technical documentation. Mapping the Path to Approval Any successful planning application starts with certainty regarding land, context and constraints. That clarity comes into focus using UK planning maps, which are based on Ordnance Survey 1:1250 scale data. By matching development proposals to the official mapping standards, property professionals boost transparency, accuracy and their likelihood of approval. An OS map is not just a background image in a regulatory environment where detail counts, but a key planning tool that sets the foundation for success. Like this: Like Related
The National
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Donald Trump no longer meeting King Charles in Scotland
The US president was previously thought to be meeting the King informally at either Balmoral or Dumfries House before a much grander state visit later in the year. Back in February, The National reported how Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed Trump a letter from the King inviting him to Scotland during a meeting at the White House. However, it is understood that there were "logistical challenges" surrounding an informal visit, with conflicts in both the King's and Trump's diaries meaning a private meeting was not possible. This comes despite the fact that the King is set to head to Scotland for his summer break, while Trump is expected to visit his new, second golf course in Aberdeenshire when it opens this summer. It is understood that the logistical reasons why the private meeting cannot precede the state visit are understood and accepted by all parties. Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun. While the exact dates have not yet been announced, September is said to be most likely. READ MORE: 17 historic Scottish locations as seen in the first ever Ordnance Survey maps However, The Times reported that Starmer had gone against the wishes of the King by bringing Trump's state visit forward to September. The newspaper said the Palace had been hoping for a more "leisurely" approach building towards the state visit, due to concerns over Trump's threat to make Canada – where the King is also the head of state – the 51st US state. A second state visit is unprecedented for a US president. Trump's first state visit took place in 2019, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace. The Times suggested that Starmer was hoping to prioritise his attempt to curry favour with Trump and capitalise on the president's fascination with the royal family. A Number 10 spokesman said: "It's a matter for the Palace."
