🆕Retail Area Major
This page details upcoming data that will be provided for the Retail Area Major Feature Type in the OS NGD from the end of March 2026 to give you early insight. Data schema version 1.0 for this feature type is currently not available through the live access services. The information on this page is as accurate as possible, but is subject to change before launch.
Retail Area Major features are identified where addresses with a suitable classification (those which are indicative of retail) share a street name or site and meet the count threshold (as defined by the local address density). Retail Setting attribution is included on Retail Area Major features to give a high-level description of the type of retail setting assigned to the retail area: high street, shopping centre or retail park.
Temporal filtering
The earliest date on which you can request a one-off snapshot of a date in the past for data in this feature type is 26 March 2026; any data temporally filtered earlier than the specified earliest date noted for the data schema version may contain data inconsistencies.
What is temporal filtering?
Temporal filtering allows you to order a one-off snapshot of data from the OS NGD from a current or past date. It is an optional step when you create a new data package in OS Select+Build (the OS NGD download service). More information about temporal filtering on OS NGD feature types is available from the Getting started with temporal filtering guide.
Feature type attributes
The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included with this feature type, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.
Loading OS NGD CSV files into databases
Comma-separated values (CSV) file format is universally supported for easy ingestion into all major database products. Before loading OS NGD data contained in CSV files into a database, it is necessary to create relevant tables. Data definition language (DDL) statements for PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Oracle can be accessed in our OS NGD Resources GitHub repository.
For instructions on loading CSV files, see the Getting Started with CSV guide.
featureid
A non-persistent identifier for uniquely identifying each retail area. The notional extents of retail area features are regenerated periodically, at which point they will get a new Feature ID.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 36
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
versiondate
Date when the version was last updated.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
versionavailablefromdate
The date this version of the feature became the latest version.
Data Types: DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
versionavailabletodate
The date this version of the feature was superseded by an update or ceased to exist.
Data Types: DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
changetype
The type of change that generated a new version of the feature.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: changetypevalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
geometry
Geometry for the feature.
Data Types: Geometry (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
Geometry Type: Polygon
geometry_area_m2
The measured area of the geometry in square metres.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 15
Scale: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 1.0
theme
The OS NGD theme to which the feature belongs.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: themevalue
Max Length: 40
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
description
A single descriptive value intended for a quick understanding of what the feature represents.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: retailareamajordescriptionvalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_usrn
The Unique Street Reference Number (USRN) of the Street feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_siteid
The identifier of the Site feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 36
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name1_text
The name of the feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 254
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name1_language
The language type associated with the name1 value of the dividing feature, provided as a 3-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng, 'cym', 'gla').
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: languagevalue
Max Length: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name2_text
The name of the feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 254
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name2_language
The language type associated with the name2 value of the dividing feature, provided as a 3-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng, 'cym', 'gla').
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: languagevalue
Max Length: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name3_text
The name of the feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 254
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name3_language
The language type associated with the name3 value of the dividing feature, provided as a 3-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng, 'cym', 'gla').
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: languagevalue
Max Length: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name4_text
The name of the feature used to divide the retail area from other retail areas.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 254
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
dividingfeature_name4_language
The language type associated with the name4 value of the dividing feature, provided as a 3-digit ISO 639-2 code ('eng, 'cym', 'gla').
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: languagevalue
Max Length: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
oslandusetiera
A high-level description of the main activity that takes place at the location, derived from the Land Use Tier A attribute of the Site feature(s) associated with this area.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: landusetieravalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 1.0
residentialdensity
Classification of the density of residential addresses for the identified Retail Area Major feature.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: densityvalue
Max Length: 15
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
retailsetting
A high-level description of the retail setting assigned to the Retail Area Major feature.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: retailsettingvalue
Max Length: 20
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_total
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_retail
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area that are classified as 'Retail' and meet the Retail Area Major Feature Type specification.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_office
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area that are classified as 'Office' and meet the Retail Area Major Feature Type specification.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_industrial
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area that are classified as 'Industrial' and meet the Retail Area Major Feature Type specification.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_residential
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area that are classified as 'Residential' and meet the Retail Area Major Feature Type specification.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
addresscount_other
Total count of Built Complete, Built Address features contained within the retail area that are classified as 'Other' and meet the Retail Area Major Feature Type specification.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
retailareaaggregatedid
The identifier of the Retail Area Aggregated feature of which this feature is a component.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 36
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
easting
X coordinate defining the weighted centre of the object in accordance with the British National Grid (EPSG:27700) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 8
Scale: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
northing
Y coordinate defining the weighted centre of the object in accordance with the British National Grid (EPSG:27700) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
longitude
The Easting defining the weighted centre of the object in accordance with the ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 7
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
latitude
The Northing defining the weighted centre of the object in accordance with the ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 7
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
Related Entity
The Related Entity Related Component provides cross-reference information to key identifiers from other datasets, allowing for the linking of the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) to its associated feature types.
relatedentityid
Primary key providing a unique row identifier assigned to enable indexing for efficient querying.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 36
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
featuretypeid
Identifier of the feature to which the related component applies. This is used along with the Feature Type Version Date attribute to join the component to the Retail Area Major feature.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
featuretypeversiondate
Date of the feature version to which this related component applies. This is used along with the Feature Type ID attribute to join the component to the Retail Area Major feature.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
crossreferencefeature
Description of the related dataset that the cross reference refers to, for example, 'Built Address'.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: dataentitycatalogueretailareavalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
crossreferenceid
Identifier of the related data entity or feature type instance that is the target of the reference or link.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 36
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
relationshiptype
Type of relationship which has been formed between the source and target features, for example, 'Within' or 'Same As'.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: relationshiptypevalue
Code List Version: 2.0
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
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