Source: OpenStreetMap
Community Amenities Map UK
Search any UK location to see nearby libraries, post offices and recycling centres alongside your planning and site data.
What This Layer Shows
This layer maps everyday civic amenities around any site: libraries, post offices and household waste recycling centres. Each amenity is plotted as a point with its name and category, sourced from OpenStreetMap and loaded live as you browse the map.
Together these amenities give a quick read on the everyday liveability of an area, a factor considered in residential site sustainability assessments.
Why It Matters
Local Plans commonly reference everyday civic amenities within sustainability and accessibility criteria for new housing, and their presence shapes buyer appeal and day-to-day liveability of a site. Developers and planning consultants check this layer to understand what already serves an area before committing to a site.
How to Interpret the Map
Libraries
Public library locations.
Post Offices
Post office branch locations.
Recycling Centres
Household waste recycling centre locations.
Planning and Development Implications
Many Local Plans set accessibility criteria for new housing that reference walking distance to everyday civic amenities, so this layer helps gauge whether a site is likely to meet those sustainability tests. This layer is a screening aid rather than a substitute for a full sustainability appraisal where one is required for a specific application.
What to Do Next
- 1Review which civic amenities already exist within walking distance of the site.
- 2Cross-check against the relevant Local Plan's sustainability and accessibility criteria for the proposed use.
- 3Check the wider Public Services & Amenities layer for the fuller picture.
This is general guidance, not professional or legal advice — confirm specifics with the relevant authority or a qualified professional.
Official Data Source
Data Freshness
Important Limitations
- OpenStreetMap is crowd-sourced — very recent openings or closures may not yet be reflected.
- Coverage density depends on local contribution levels and can be sparser in rural areas.
- This map does not replace direct confirmation with the local authority for planning purposes.
Common Use Cases
Property Developers
Assess local amenity provision as part of site feasibility and sustainability criteria.
Planning Consultants
Support accessibility arguments in planning statements.
Property Buyers
Check everyday amenities before making an offer.
Related Layers
Community amenity checks are often run alongside these related layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What community amenities does this layer show?
Libraries, post offices and household waste recycling centres, sourced from OpenStreetMap and loaded live for the visible map area.
Why do developers check community amenities?
Everyday civic amenities feature in Local Plan sustainability criteria for new housing and influence how well-served a site feels to future occupiers.
How current is the community amenities data?
Data is sourced live from OpenStreetMap, a continuously updated crowd-sourced dataset, so most established amenities are captured, though very recent openings or closures may lag behind.
Is this data available UK-wide?
Coverage follows OpenStreetMap contribution levels, which are generally strong across UK towns and cities, though rural areas may show fewer mapped amenities.
References and Methodology
Reviewed by the Maplify data & editorial team
Maplify displays official-source data for desktop screening and due diligence. We document where each dataset comes from, how it is processed, when it is checked and where its limitations matter.