This resource contains the spatial dataset of Special Protection Area boundaries in Great Britain (including offshore areas), last updated on March 2026. The date of the latest update to the data is provided in the file name.
The SPA spatial dataset for Northern Ireland is available as a separate resource.
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) form the UK's National Site Network. JNCC maintains the UK National Site Network datasets (formerly UK Natura 2000 datasets) and periodically publishes updates of the datasets following changes to the site network, which might include:
- designation/classification of new sites;
- amendments to existing site boundaries;
- corrections to the datasets or amendments due to updates to the underlying base maps.
Please note that the statutory nature conservation bodies responsible for the sites may update site boundary data in between JNCC's periodic updates. To access the latest national site network boundary data, please visit the relevant CNCB website.
More information on the UK's network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), including information on the most recent updates to the network and details of previous updates (tranches), is available on the SPAs webpage.
