Introduction
These are the version notes for the latest Scottish Postcode Directory (SPD) spatial data (ESRI Shapefile format), postcode index, and accompanying lookup files (CSV format).
Overview
The data is based on the July 2026 release of Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File (PAF) and contains:
| All post codes | Live postcodes | Deleted postcodes |
All postcodes | 247,773 | 162,049 | 85,724 |
Small user | 196,769 | 157,282 | 39,487 |
Large user | 51,004 | 4,767 | 46,237 |
The number of live, digitised small user postcodes is 156,125.
Postcode Index Changes
Fieldnames
We have updated 2 existing fields to the latest version available. The fields are:
Data Improvements
Retrospective small user update
In SPD 2026/1 output the following split postcodes AB31 5AS, AB54 7NS, FK14 7JX and KA6 6EY had their split suffix swapped over to ensure the A part was the most populated (based on delivery point count). As split postcodes are an NRS policy, we did not delete and reintroduce the postcodes affected, we swapped the suffix around, as was done in the previous postcode management system.
Following feedback from users, we have agreed that data practices have changed since our previous system and have retrospectively amended the split postcodes for AB31 5AS, AB54 7NS, FK14 7JX and KA6 6EY to show them as deleted and then reintroduced them in their correct council area based on their delivery point count. By doing this any future change will be fully traceable. Special thanks to NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde for spotting the anomaly in the split postcodes.
Supply Restrictions
• Postcode Index – customers requiring Royal Mail Delivery Point Count information should contact our Geography Customer Services team.
• Postcode boundaries are only available to members of the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) (Ordnance Survey website).
• Further information on these restrictions is available on the Geography products - licensing and pricing page of the website.
Data Downloads
Related Content
Geography products - licensing and pricing
Geography policies and information notes
Scotland’s catalogue of spatial data
Contact us
For any enquiries about our Geography products or policies, contact our Geography Customer Services team.
