Case Study: Greater London Authority achieves £1.28m savings in school planning with Ordnance Survey

Greater London Authority - Customer Case Study

Greater London Authority (GLA) needed accurate foresight to deliver the Mayor’s Vision for 2020: predict population growth, plan for about 4,000 extra primary and secondary classes, create a single London‑wide schools system, map catchments, and produce annual roll projections. To meet these challenges the GLA used Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) data and Ordnance Survey products (OS MasterMap Topography Layer, OS VectorMap District/Local, Boundary‑Line, Code‑Point) supplied by vendor Ordnance Survey.

Ordnance Survey helped deliver the online Schools Atlas—a user‑friendly tool now used across 32 London boroughs that visualises current and future school place requirements and catchment patterns. Developed internally in 40 days using OS data, the project avoided external consultancy fees (£1,000/day), produced an immediate £40,000 saving for the GLA and potential savings of £1,280,000 across 32 boroughs, with further efficiencies expected.

Greater London Authority

Paul Hodgson

GIS & Infrastructure Manager