The cheapest planning map is not always the cheapest way to complete an application. A low headline price can become expensive if the map uses the wrong scale, omits the access route or has to be replaced before validation.
The useful comparison is the complete deliverable: coverage, scale, paper size, format, licensing, boundary tools and support.
You can compare current PlanningMapsUK options on the OS planning maps, site location plan and CAD maps pages.
Compare the complete map deliverable, not just the headline price.
The main price factors
Map coverage
The more ground a plan covers, the more mapping data may be included. A small urban block plan costs less than a large rural or regional map because the licensed area and processing requirements differ.
Do not buy a larger area than the application needs, but do not force a rural site into an extent that omits the access or context.
Scale
A 1:1250 location plan and a 1:500 block plan answer different questions. A larger scale provides closer detail but covers less ground on the same sheet. Price should be considered alongside the map job, not in isolation.
Paper size
A3, A2 or larger sheets can show more ground at the same scale. They may cost more to produce or print, but a larger sheet can be cheaper than ordering several unsuitable smaller plans.
File format
PDF is generally the practical format for uploading a finished planning document. DWG and DXF are editable formats for architects, engineers and technical teams. Word or image formats may be useful in particular workflows, but confirm what the person preparing the application needs.
| Requirement | Usually consider |
|---|---|
| Final digital submission | |
| Editable design base | DWG or DXF |
| Technical GIS workflow | CAD/GIS export where available |
| Paper submission | PDF plus correctly printed copies |
Printed copies
Printed plans add paper, handling and delivery costs. If the authority accepts digital upload, a print add-on may not be necessary. If paper copies are required, check the number, paper size and delivery time before ordering.
Amendments and support
A supplier that helps correct a genuine preparation issue can save more than a small initial price difference. Check whether amendments are included, how long they remain available and whether the guarantee covers technical map faults.
Compare the complete offer
Before choosing a supplier, check:
- Is the mapping correctly licensed?
- Is the map current enough for the authority?
- Does it include a north point and scale bar?
- Can you preview the exact map before paying?
- Can you draw red and blue boundaries?
- Is the address correct?
- Are PDF and CAD options clearly described?
- Are printed copies actually needed?
- What happens if the council raises a technical query?
A very cheap map that needs replacing is not a saving.
One map or a pack?
Many domestic applications need a location plan and a detailed block or site plan. Buying them together can reduce the risk of mismatched addresses or boundaries.
If an architect is preparing the proposal, ask whether they need a PDF, CAD base or both. Ordering a PDF first and a CAD file later may cost more than selecting the right output at the beginning.
Avoid paying for the wrong thing
Common mistakes include:
- Buying a 1:1250 plan when the council also wants 1:500 detail.
- Ordering a small map that cuts off the rural access.
- Paying for CAD when the final upload only needs PDF.
- Assuming a title plan is the same as a planning map.
- Adding printed copies that will never be used.
- Selecting a map by price before checking the preview.
Use the Which planning map do I need? tool to narrow the requirement before comparing prices.
The sensible buying rule
Choose the smallest correctly licensed map output that satisfies the authority's requirements and communicates the whole proposal. If you need more than one view, order a coordinated pack. If a professional needs editable data, select CAD deliberately.
The price is only one part of the decision. Accuracy, suitability and the cost of fixing a wrong map matter just as much.
Compare the complete deliverable
Before comparing two prices, write down what must arrive in the download or pack:
| Requirement | Why to check it |
|---|---|
| Correct map type | A cheap location plan does not replace a detailed block plan. |
| Suitable coverage | The access, plot and surrounding context must be visible. |
| Stated scale and paper size | The final map needs to remain measurable and readable. |
| Licence and source information | The plan should be suitable for planning use. |
| PDF or CAD format | The format must match the portal or designer's workflow. |
| Revision or re-order support | Changes happen; know what correction options exist. |
This prevents a headline price from hiding a missing companion plan, an unsuitable crop or a file that a designer cannot edit. It also makes it easier to explain the purchase to a client who is comparing suppliers on price alone.
Where a cheaper option becomes expensive
The hidden cost usually appears after the order: the map needs redoing because the access was omitted, the PDF was resized, the wrong scale was chosen or the red line no longer matches the drawings. Add the time spent emailing, revising drawings and re-uploading files. The total can exceed the difference between two sensible suppliers.
That does not mean the most expensive option is automatically best. It means the comparison should be based on a correct, usable output and a clear ordering process. Use the planning map pack when the application needs coordinated views, and reserve CAD plans for projects that genuinely need editable technical data.
Compare value against the application task
Price becomes easier to judge when every item is tied to a job. The location plan identifies the land; the detailed plan explains the site; CAD supports design coordination; printing is a delivery choice. Buying a more elaborate format cannot compensate for a missing application document.
| Need | Sensible starting output | Upgrade only when… |
|---|---|---|
| Identify a standard house plot | A4 PDF location plan | the complete site or context will not fit |
| Show an extension in its plot | Detailed PDF block/site plan | a designer needs editable geometry |
| Coordinate a larger design team | DWG or DXF base map | the agreed software and coordinate needs are known |
| Submit online | Original, true-scale PDF | the authority explicitly requests another format |
| Produce paper copies | Print original at the stated size | the submission route still requires physical sheets |
Most applications require the plans appropriate to the proposal, not a premium bundle for its own sake. The Planning Portal’s submission guidance separates the location plan and site/block plan and reminds applicants that local document requirements vary. Check those requirements before comparing baskets.
Ask what the price includes
A like-for-like comparison should cover the mapping source, scale, paper size, stated use, boundary tools, output format, tax, delivery and correction policy. Licensed mapping matters: Ordnance Survey’s OS Maps API product information describes access to detailed OS mapping including OS MasterMap Topography Layer. A screen capture from an unrelated web map is not equivalent to a prepared planning-use document with the necessary attribution and scale information.
For CAD, ask whether the file is georeferenced, what units it uses and whether contours or other datasets are included. For PDF, ask whether it is generated at a declared A4 or A3 scale. For printed copies, include postage and turnaround. These details often explain apparently large price differences.
Put the cost of correction into the decision
Suppose the cheapest order saves £5 but omits the full access route. Correcting it may require a new plan, a designer’s revision and another submission round. The meaningful cost is then not the original receipt; it is the time and rework created by the mismatch.
Use this short risk check:
- Could the site boundary still change?
- Has the council’s local validation list been checked?
- Does the person preparing the drawings need CAD or only PDF?
- Can the whole site and identifying context be seen in the preview?
- Is post-purchase correction available if you make a genuine marking error?
Resolve the first three before buying. Inspect the final two before submitting. That approach is more reliable than choosing either the lowest headline price or the largest package.
A note on “free” maps
Free viewing tools are excellent for research, but viewing permission is not automatically permission to reproduce mapping in a planning application. Copyright, database rights and the terms of the specific service still apply. If a free route is offered for formal submissions, check its licence, attribution, scale and export conditions carefully. Paying for a map is not the objective; obtaining a lawful, legible and fit-for-purpose document is.