Question 1

What is Maplify?

Accepted Answer

Maplify is a UK property and land intelligence platform giving instant access to over 265 official government data layers, including HM Land Registry boundaries, flood risk zones, planning designations, heritage constraints, environmental designations and ground risk data. Property professionals use it for site screening, due diligence and property research.

Question 2

Who is Maplify built for?

Accepted Answer

Maplify is used by property developers, planning consultants, architects, surveyors, solicitors and conveyancers, landowners, investors, self-builders, local authorities and housing associations — anyone who needs to quickly understand the constraints affecting a piece of land.

Question 3

Is Maplify free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free plan lets you view all property constraints on the interactive map, search locations, toggle data layers and click to query constraint information, with 20 free searches per week. Paid Professional and Enterprise plans add saved searches, unlimited report generation, the Dashboard pipeline and team features.

Question 4

What areas does Maplify cover?

Accepted Answer

Maplify covers England and Wales. HM Land Registry INSPIRE data is available for both countries; Environment Agency flood data covers England; Natural England and Historic England datasets cover England, with some Welsh-specific datasets included where available. Coverage varies by individual dataset — check the relevant data layer for its exact extent.

Question 5

How do I search for a property?

Accepted Answer

Search using a postcode (e.g. SW1A 1AA), a full address, an OS National Grid reference (e.g. TQ 123 456), a what3words location, a Land Registry title number, or latitude/longitude coordinates. Type your search into the search bar and select from the results.

Question 6

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

No account is required to view the map and property constraints. A free account lets you save searches and drawings. Paid plans unlock report generation, the Dashboard pipeline and advanced tools.

Question 7

Can I use Maplify on my phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Maplify is fully responsive and works in any modern mobile browser, though for detailed site work a larger screen is recommended for the best experience.

Question 8

Do I need to install any software?

Accepted Answer

No. Maplify runs entirely in your browser — there is nothing to download or install.

Question 9

What Land Registry data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Maplify displays the HM Land Registry INSPIRE Index Polygons, which show the extent and location of registered land and property in England and Wales. Each polygon represents a registered title and displays its title number. This dataset is updated monthly by HM Land Registry.

Question 10

Can I see who owns a property?

Accepted Answer

Maplify shows property boundaries and title numbers from the INSPIRE Index, not ownership names. Ownership details are available by purchasing the official title register from HM Land Registry using the title number shown on the map, or through our Land Registry Search tool.

Question 11

Why can't I see Land Registry boundaries?

Accepted Answer

Land Registry boundaries are only rendered from zoom level 17 and above, in line with the underlying data's licensing requirements. Zoom in closer to your area of interest and the property boundaries will appear.

Question 12

Are the Land Registry boundaries legally definitive?

Accepted Answer

No. The INSPIRE Index Polygons show the general extent of registered titles and are indicative, not legally definitive boundaries. For boundary disputes or precise legal measurements, order the official title plan directly from HM Land Registry.

Question 13

How often is Land Registry data updated?

Accepted Answer

HM Land Registry publishes updated INSPIRE Index Polygons monthly. New registrations and boundary amendments are reflected in the following month's release, and Maplify refreshes shortly after each release.

Question 14

Can I order an official title register or title plan through Maplify?

Accepted Answer

Yes — from a property boundary you can order the official HM Land Registry title register and title plan documents directly, without needing to use the government portal separately.

Question 15

What is a title number?

Accepted Answer

A title number is the unique reference HM Land Registry assigns to a registered piece of land or property. It is used to order official documents and to identify a specific parcel unambiguously.

Question 16

Is all land in England and Wales registered?

Accepted Answer

No. Some land, particularly land that has not changed hands for a long time, remains unregistered. Unregistered land will not appear as a polygon in the INSPIRE Index.

Question 17

What flood data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Environment Agency data including Flood Zone 2 (medium probability), Flood Zone 3 (high probability), Risk of Flooding from Surface Water, Risk of Flooding from Reservoirs and the Historic Flood Map showing past flood events.

Question 18

What is the difference between Flood Zone 2 and Flood Zone 3?

Accepted Answer

Flood Zone 2 covers land with between 0.1% and 1% annual probability of river flooding. Flood Zone 3 covers land with a greater than 1% annual probability of river flooding, or greater than 0.5% for sea flooding. Zone 3 sites generally face more stringent planning requirements.

Question 19

Can I build in a flood zone?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the zone and use. Flood Zone 2 developments over 1 hectare typically require a Flood Risk Assessment; Flood Zone 3 requires an FRA for all developments and the Sequential Test must usually be passed. Always confirm current requirements with your local planning authority.

Question 20

How accurate is the flood risk data?

Accepted Answer

Environment Agency flood maps are based on hydraulic modelling and are indicative risk areas, not guaranteed flood extents. Local factors such as drainage and flood defences can affect actual risk. For material decisions, commission a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment.

Question 21

What is surface water flood risk?

Accepted Answer

Surface water flooding happens when rainfall cannot drain away fast enough through the ground or drainage systems, causing water to pool. It can affect properties well outside river or coastal flood zones, and is shown as a separate layer on Maplify.

Question 22

Does flood risk affect my home insurance?

Accepted Answer

Flood risk can affect the availability and cost of buildings and contents insurance. Checking a property's flood zone before purchase helps you budget for insurance and understand whether flood resilience measures may be needed.

Question 23

What planning designations does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Landscapes), National Parks, Agricultural Land Classification, Article 4 Directions, Housing Allocations and Brownfield Land, sourced from planning.data.gov.uk and local planning authorities.

Question 24

Can I build on Green Belt land?

Accepted Answer

Development in the Green Belt is strictly controlled under national planning policy. Most new buildings are considered inappropriate unless "very special circumstances" are demonstrated. Always check current national and local planning policy before assuming a use is or isn't permitted.

Question 25

What is an Article 4 Direction?

Accepted Answer

An Article 4 Direction removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area. Where one applies, you will need full planning permission for changes that would otherwise not require it. Always read the actual direction document for the exact rights affected.

Question 26

What is Brownfield Land and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Brownfield land is previously developed land. National planning policy generally favours reusing brownfield sites for new housing over greenfield land, so identifying brownfield status can be relevant to a site's development prospects.

Question 27

What does Agricultural Land Classification tell me?

Accepted Answer

ALC grades land from 1 (excellent) to 5 (very poor) based on its agricultural quality. Best and Most Versatile land (Grades 1–3a) is given extra protection in planning policy, which can affect the likelihood of non-agricultural development being approved.

Question 28

How do I find planning applications near a site?

Accepted Answer

Use our Planning Application Finder tool from the map toolbar to search for current and historic planning applications in the surrounding area.

Question 29

What heritage data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Listed Buildings (Grade I, II* and II), Conservation Areas, Scheduled Monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens, and World Heritage Sites, sourced from Historic England and local planning authorities.

Question 30

What does Listed Building status mean?

Accepted Answer

Listed Buildings are legally protected for their special architectural or historic interest. Any works affecting the character of a listed building — internal or external — require Listed Building Consent in addition to any planning permission needed.

Question 31

What restrictions apply in Conservation Areas?

Accepted Answer

Permitted development rights are restricted, trees are protected, and demolition generally requires consent. Some local authorities apply an additional Article 4 Direction on top of standard conservation area controls.

Question 32

What is a Scheduled Monument?

Accepted Answer

A Scheduled Monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building given protection under law. Scheduled Monument Consent is required for almost any works affecting it, including below-ground disturbance.

Question 33

Does a Tree Preservation Order stop me removing a tree?

Accepted Answer

A TPO makes it a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage a protected tree without the local planning authority's written consent. Consent can be applied for, but is not guaranteed.

Question 34

What environmental data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation, Ancient Woodland, Nature Reserves, Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and Source Protection Zones, sourced from Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Question 35

What is an SSSI?

Accepted Answer

A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a legally protected area notified for its wildlife, geology or landforms. Development affecting an SSSI, or within its Impact Risk Zone, typically requires consultation with Natural England.

Question 36

What is Ancient Woodland?

Accepted Answer

Land continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD in England. It is treated as an irreplaceable habitat under national planning policy, and development resulting in its loss is normally refused unless wholly exceptional circumstances apply.

Question 37

What is a Source Protection Zone?

Accepted Answer

An area around a groundwater source (such as a borehole or spring used for drinking water) where development is more tightly controlled to protect water quality. Zone 1 is closest to the source and carries the strictest controls.

Question 38

What are Nitrate Vulnerable Zones?

Accepted Answer

Areas designated because nitrate from agriculture is at risk of polluting water. Farmers within an NVZ must follow specific rules on fertiliser and manure use, which can be relevant to agricultural land purchases.

Question 39

What ground risk data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Coal Mining Development High Risk Areas, historic landfill and contaminated land indicators, BGS radon potential, and geology and ground stability datasets from the Coal Authority and British Geological Survey.

Question 40

What is a Coal Mining High Risk Area?

Accepted Answer

An area identified by the Coal Authority where coal mining legacy may affect development. A Coal Mining Risk Assessment is usually required with planning applications in these areas, and the Coal Authority must normally be consulted.

Question 41

What does radon risk mapping show?

Accepted Answer

BGS data shows the estimated probability of properties in an area exceeding the radon Action Level. It is an area-level indicator, not a measurement for an individual property — a physical radon test is the only way to confirm levels at a specific address.

Question 42

What is the Contaminated Land Register?

Accepted Answer

A register maintained by local authorities of land formally determined as contaminated under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act. It only reflects land officially investigated and designated, not all potentially contaminated sites.

Question 43

What transport data does Maplify show?

Accepted Answer

Roads, railways, HS2 safeguarded land, and Public Rights of Way including footpaths, bridleways and byways, helping you understand access and any statutory safeguarding affecting a site.

Question 44

Does Maplify show utilities like water, gas and electricity?

Accepted Answer

Maplify provides broadband and mobile coverage data plus a Utilities Lookup tool for checking nearby infrastructure, though for exact underground asset locations always request statutory utility searches before any groundworks.

Question 45

What does HS2 safeguarded land mean for a site?

Accepted Answer

Safeguarded land is protected from development that could prejudice the HS2 project. Planning permission is very unlikely to be granted for most new development within the safeguarded corridor without government consent.

Question 46

How do I generate a Planning Constraints Report?

Accepted Answer

Draw or select a site boundary on the map, then use the Reports tab to generate a Planning Constraints Report — a structured summary of every relevant constraint layer affecting that boundary, downloadable as a PDF.

Question 47

Can I measure distances and areas on the map?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Measure tool lets you measure straight-line and multi-point distances, and the Draw tool lets you calculate the area of any polygon you draw.

Question 48

What is the Buffer tool for?

Accepted Answer

The Buffer tool draws a radius around a point or shape — useful for checking, for example, which designations fall within 500m of a site boundary.

Question 49

Can I export a block plan or site plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Block Plan Export tool lets you generate an A3 landscape site location plan with your drawn boundary, suitable for planning application submissions.

Question 50

Does Maplify have Street View?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Street View tool lets you drop into ground-level imagery directly from the map to get a visual sense of a site and its surroundings.

Question 51

What is the AI Copilot tool?

Accepted Answer

AI Copilot lets you ask natural-language questions about a site's constraints and get a summarised answer drawn from the data layers active on the map.

Question 52

Can I see historic aerial imagery of a site?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Historic Imagery tool lets you compare aerial photography of a site across different years to see how it has changed over time.

Question 53

Can I share a map view with someone else?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use the Share Map tool to generate a link to your current map view, including active layers and any drawn shapes, so others can see exactly what you see.

Question 54

Where does Maplify's data come from?

Accepted Answer

Every layer comes from an official UK data source — HM Land Registry, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England, the British Geological Survey, the Coal Authority and planning.data.gov.uk among others. See our Data Sources directory for the full list.

Question 55

How often is the underlying data updated?

Accepted Answer

Update frequency varies by dataset — some are monthly, others are updated as changes occur at source. See our Data Update Schedule for the expected cycle for each dataset.

Question 56

Is Maplify's mapping legally definitive?

Accepted Answer

No. Maplify provides indicative screening information from official sources for research and due diligence. For legally definitive information, always refer to the relevant source authority — see our Accuracy & Limitations page for a full explanation.

Question 57

What should I do if I spot an error in the data?

Accepted Answer

Please let us know via our Corrections Policy page. We investigate reported errors and, where the issue originates with Maplify's processing, correct it; where it originates with the source dataset, we flag it to the relevant authority.

Question 58

Do you have a methodology page explaining how layers are built?

Accepted Answer

Yes — our Methodology page explains how we ingest, process and display each official dataset, including our approach to accuracy and quality assurance.

Question 59

What features require a paid subscription?

Accepted Answer

Free access includes viewing all data layers, searching locations, querying constraints and basic measurements, with 20 free searches per week. Paid plans add saved searches, unlimited report generation, the Dashboard pipeline and team features — see Pricing for current details.

Question 60

Can I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cancel at any time from your account settings. Access continues until the end of your current billing period, with no cancellation fee.

Question 61

Do you offer team or enterprise pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — contact our sales team for a quote covering multi-seat and enterprise requirements.

Question 62

What are search credits?

Accepted Answer

Search credits are consumed for certain premium actions such as generating detailed intelligence on a site. Your plan includes a monthly allowance, and additional credit packs can be purchased if you need more.

Question 63

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can change plans at any time from My Account. Changes take effect immediately, and billing is adjusted accordingly.

Question 64

How do I get an invoice or receipt?

Accepted Answer

Invoices for every payment are available to download from the Billing section of My Account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Land Registry Data

Flood Risk

Planning Designations

Heritage & Conservation

Environmental Designations

Ground Risk & Contamination

Transport & Utilities

Map Tools & Reports

Data Sources & Methodology

Accounts & Billing