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  4. Why Aren't All The Datasets Available To Download?

Why Aren't All The Datasets Available To Download?

Created: 06 January 2020 Updated: 19 August 2021

Most datasets on the Data Services Platform are available for anyone to download, usually under an Open Government Licence. However, some datasets are only available to certain registered users, others can be accessed only via web services (WMS or WFS), and others are not released at all.

If a dataset is not available for you to download, it will probably be due to one of the following reasons:

  • Third-party intellectual property (IP) restrictions. For example, we may have created a dataset that incorporates data from another organisation. Our licence to use this third-party data may restrict who we are able to share it with.

  • Sensitive or confidential data that we are unable to share widely. For example, its release may breach legislation and/or pose a security risk.

  • Personal data. For example, if a dataset contains information about identifiable individuals, we could be breaching the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if we released it.

There may be alternative datasets available. Please refer to the related datasets listed on data.gov.uk.

If you can’t find an alternative you can submit a Freedom of Information request to enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.