UK Government Press Release: “…the government has announced that key parts of the OS MasterMap will be made openly available for the public and businesses to use.
It is estimated that this will boost the UK economy by at least £130m each year, as innovative companies and startups use the data.
The release of OS MasterMap data is one of the first projects to be delivered by the new Geospatial Commission, in conjunction with Ordnance Survey. The aim is to continue to drive forward the UK as a world leader in location data, helping to grow the UK’s digital economy by an estimated £11bn each year.
This is a step on a journey towards more open geospatial data infrastructure for the UK.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington, said
Opening up OS MasterMap underlines this Government’s commitment to ensuring the UK continues to lead the way in digital innovation. Releasing this valuable government data for free will help stimulate innovation in the economy, generate jobs and improve public services.
Location-aware technologies – using geospatial data – are revolutionising our economy. From navigating public transport to tracking supply chains and planning efficient delivery routes, these digital services are built on location data that has become part of everyday life and business.
The newly available data should be particularly useful to small firms and entrepreneurs to realise their ideas and compete with larger organisations, encouraging greater competition and innovation….(More)”.