Historic Imagery Tool
Scroll through a timeline of archived aerial and satellite imagery on the Maplify map to see how any UK site has changed over the years.
What You Can See
Switch the map to archived aerial and satellite imagery and scroll through a timeline of past captures to see exactly how any UK location has changed over the years.
A Timeline of Captures
Step through a chronological list of imagery releases for the same area, each showing the site as it appeared at that point in time.
Past Site Uses and Structures
Spot buildings, hardstanding or other features that have since been demolished or changed — useful context before due diligence.
How to View Historic Imagery
- Open the map on Maplify.
- Navigate to the location you want to check.
- Select the Historic Imagery tool from the toolbar.
- Use the timeline slider to step through past captures.
- Compare each date against the current satellite view.
Worked Example
A developer is assessing a brownfield plot:
- Historic imagery from several years ago shows a warehouse that has since been demolished.
- An earlier capture reveals the site was previously used for vehicle storage.
- This history is noted ahead of a full contamination search.
Data Source, Coverage and Updates
| Source | Archived aerial and satellite imagery releases available for the mapped area. |
| Coverage | Varies by location; many UK areas have multiple captures spanning over a decade. |
| Refresh | New imagery releases are added to the timeline as they become available. |
Important Limitations
- Coverage and the number of historic captures available varies by location.
- Image quality and resolution can vary between older and more recent captures.
- Historic imagery is for visual reference only and does not confirm legal land use history.
Historic imagery is often reviewed alongside Street View, the Land Insights Pane, the AI Planning Co-Pilot and the Planning Application Finder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the historic imagery tool?
It swaps the map's base layer for archived aerial and satellite captures, so you can see how a site looked in earlier years.
How far back does the imagery go?
Coverage varies by location, but many areas have captures going back over a decade, with a full timeline of releases to choose from.
Why would I check historic imagery before buying land?
It helps you spot past uses, structures that have since been removed, or changes to boundaries and vegetation that may affect a site's history or condition.
Can I compare two dates side by side?
You can step through the release timeline one capture at a time to compare changes over the years for the same location.
Is historic imagery free to use?
Yes, it is included on the free Maplify map viewer.