Accessibility Statement

Accessibility statement for spatialhub.scot

This accessibility statement applies to spatialhub.scot. It does not cover other Improvement Service domains (for example parentsportal.scot) or external services using mygovscot myaccount for authentication, which have their own accessibility statements.

This website is run by the Improvement Service. Other public sector and local government online public service content may be referenced or hyperlinked.

Website Readability and Usability

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. You should be able to:

  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings
  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard or speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader

We have made every effort to ensure this web site is easily readable using plain English. Our web team regularly review content and provide recommendations to all our content publishers to ensure all web content is written in a format which is as easy to understand where possible.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is?

Parts of this website are not fully accessible. For example:

  • User-generated content uploaded by third parties may not always meet accessibility standards
  • Some complex data visualisations and downloadable datasets may present challenges for assistive technologies
  • some images do not have image descriptions
  • some images used to convey information have poor colour contrast

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems not listed on this page, you think we're not meeting accessibility requirements or you need information in a different format, please contact us at: spatialhub@improvementservice.org.uk

In your message, include:

  • the web address (URL) of the content
  • your email address and name
  • the format you need - for example, plain text, braille, BSL, large print or audio CD

We'll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations'). If you're not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

The Improvement Service is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed.

Non-accessible content

The following content is non-accessible for the following reasons:

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
  1. Content uploaded by third parties (user-generated content) may not be fully accessible, Including:
    • Images or other non-text content may be published without appropriate text alternatives, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
    • Documents, datasets or other uploaded content may not be structured in a way that is programmatically determinable, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).
    • Uploaded documents or files may not meet minimum colour contrast requirements, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)).
    • Some uploaded documents may not include meaningful titles or clear document structure, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.2 (Page Titled).
    • Embedded or third-party content may not expose appropriate semantic information to assistive technologies, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

    2. While we provide guidance and aim to support contributors in creating accessible content, we cannot guarantee that all content uploaded by third parties meets accessibility requirements.

  2. Some downloadable files and datasets (including but not limited to PDFs, spreadsheets, and other file formats) may not be fully accessible. These may lack appropriate structure, text alternatives, or logical reading order, failing WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
  3. Embedded interactive maps use visual cues without text alternatives and may have insufficient colour contrast, failing WCAG 2.2 success criteria 1.1.1 (Non-text Content), 1.4.1 (Use of Colour), 1.3.3 (Sensory Characteristics), 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)), and 1.4.11 (Non-text Contrast). Keyboard navigation is also not fully supported, failing WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard).

Disproportionate Burden

The interactive preview map feature (available at: https://maps.test.spatialhub.scot/data_preview_map/) is not fully accessible, including:

  • Some functionality within the map interface cannot be fully operated using a keyboard, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard).
  • Focus indicators may not be consistently visible across all interactive elements within the map interface, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 (Focus Visible).
  • The visual structure and layering of spatial data is not always programmatically determinable, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).
  • Some map-based content does not have suitable text alternatives, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
  • Some custom interface controls within the map may not expose correct semantic information to assistive technologies, failing WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

We believe that making the interactive map fully accessible would represent a disproportionate burden.

The map provides a visual preview of spatial data and is not required to access the core functionality of the service. Users can access the same datasets and information through alternative formats on the website, including dataset descriptions and downloads.

We will continue to review this position as the service evolves and will consider improvements where feasible.

Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services.

What we're doing to improve accessibility

We are committed to improving the accessibility of SpatialHub Scotland.

We will continue to:

  • periodically review and audit the website to identify accessibility issues
  • make improvements where they are identified and feasible to address
  • provide guidance and support to contributors to help improve the accessibility of user-generated content

The Improvement Service has started a process of ongoing WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility training so that any new content, pages, features of alterations meet accessibility standards.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 11/06/2026.

This website was last tested on 10/06/2026 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

The test was carried out by the Improvement Service. A representative sample of pages was tested using automated accessibility testing tools. This included key user journeys and core pages of the service.

As the platform hosts content uploaded by third parties, it was not possible to test the user-generated content. The core components and templates used across the site have been designed to meet accessibility standards; however, content provided within these components by third parties may not always be fully accessible. Accessibility of this content may vary.

Terms and Conditions

General

  1. When the following words are used in these Terms & Conditions, this is what they will mean:
    1. “Spatial Hub” is an online platform for hosting and publishing Scottish spatial data.
    2. "We", "Us" or "Our": the Improvement Service, a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (Company No. SC287978) and operating from The Improvement Service, West Lothian Council Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF.
    3. "You" or "Your": the person wishing to access and/or use the Spatial Hub.
  2. These Terms & Conditions (along with our Privacy Notice and Cookie Policy, together our Terms of Use) apply to your use of the Spatial Hub and/or where applicable, our website at data.spatialhub.scot .
  3. We recommend that you read these Terms & Conditions carefully and print a copy for your future reference. These Terms & Conditions tell you who we are, how we will provide the Spatial Hub services to you, how we may change or terminate the Spatial Hub, how you may stop using the Spatial Hub, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. If You do not understand any point, please Contact us to discuss before You register.
  4. You are solely responsible for all of your actions related to the use of the Spatial Hub service.

Who we are

We are the Improvement Service, operator of the Spatial Hub service. You can read more about the Improvement Service and what we do at improvementservice.org.uk .

The services we provide

We provide access to datasets provided by local authorities and other partner organisations to form Scotland-wide national datasets before publishing these in various formats to maximise their use.

Registration

Before you can access Spatial Hub data to use in a suitable application you must first have registered and logged in to a free Spatial Hub account. Then you can either download a copy of the data in a variety of formats or connect to a web service.

Your Responsibilities

  1. By agreeing to these Terms & Conditions you are committing to keep your account details secure, and you should not divulge your password to any third parties. If you contact us for support, you should never include your password in any request and you will never be asked for this information by our support team.
  2. If you are using a shared device (e.g. in a library, internet cafe, or in an office), please ensure you log out of the system after use. Your account will be disabled after 15 months of inactivity.
  3. Your account is for your personal use and is not transferable.
  4. Improper use of the Spatial Hub website will lead to your account being disabled or revoked.
  5. Failure to comply with these responsibilities may lead to your account being disabled or revoked.

Changes to These Terms & Conditions

  1. We may change the Spatial Hub service and/or the Terms & Conditions at any time (in whole or part, whether temporarily or permanently) for any of the following reasons:
  • to reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements
  • to implement minor technical adjustments, updates and improvements, for example, making available additional features and addressing security threats
  • to release and make available additional features, updates and improvements to the Spatial Hub service (either temporarily or permanently)

Our Obligations to You

  1. While we try to ensure that the Spatial Hub service functions correctly, this may not always be achievable, and it is provided on an "as is" basis. We cannot guarantee that the Spatial Hub service will be available all the time or at any specific time. The service may be temporarily suspended if the IT systems or infrastructure used to provide the service are under repair or maintenance or are otherwise unavailable due to an event outside our control.
  2. We do not guarantee that the Spatial Hub service will be compatible with all or any particular hardware or software that you may use.
  3. We take steps to ensure that the Spatial Hub service and any supporting materials are free from computer viruses and other harmful computer programs. However, we cannot guarantee this. You are advised to use appropriate firewall and anti-virus software to protect your computer and data.
  4. You must not misuse our website and/or Spatial Hub by knowingly introducing viruses, Trojans, worms, logic bombs or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to our website and/or Spatial Hub, the server on which our website is stored or any server, computer or database connected to our website. You must not attack our website and/or Spatial Hub via a denial of service attack or a distributed denial of service attack.
  5. All intellectual property rights e.g. copyright, trademarks etc. in the Spatial Hub service and/or our website vest in us or our licensors. You have a licence to use such intellectual property rights within the Spatial Hub service for the strict purpose of using Spatial Hub data or to view our website and for no other purpose.

Liability

  1. We provide the Spatial Hub service both for commercial and non-commercial use depending on a user’s account permissions. We exclude all warranties (whether express or implied) in so far as allowed by law. If you wish to share Spatial Hub data with commercial partners and/or consultants you will require suitable licensing, for example via a Public Sector Contractor Licence, which would need to be provided to the Improvement Service.
  2. We exclude liability for indirect and/or consequential loss in relation to or arising from use of Spatial Hub including for any loss of use, loss of profit, loss of business, loss of revenue, business interruption or loss of business opportunity.
  3. We also exclude all liability arising from or in relation to use of Spatial Hub in so far as permitted by law. In no circumstances shall our liability under or in relation to the Terms of Use exceed ONE HUNDRED POUNDS (£100) STERLING.
  4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not attempting to exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, fraud or breach of statutory duty.
  5. For the avoidance of doubt, we have no liability for any third-party service that You may access from Spatial Hub including those provided by any Service Provider and You should check the Service Providers’ terms and conditions.

Termination of the Service

  1. You are free to stop using the Spatial Hub service at any time. If you want to stop using the Spatial Hub service, you can delete your account via your user profile. Data associated with unused/inactive accounts will be deleted by Spatial Hub staff after a certain period. More details on this can be found in our privacy policy.
  2. We may need to suspend your access to areas of the website and/or your use of the Spatial Hub service to:
  • deal with technical problems or make technical changes
  • update or reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements
  • investigate and resolve unlawful or fraudulent activity or activity suggesting that the security of your account has been compromised
  1. We may need to terminate your access to areas of the website and/or your Spatial Hub if in our view:
  • there has been a serious failure by you to comply with these Terms & Conditions
  • We suspect unlawful or fraudulent activity by you or on your account
  1. We may at our discretion discontinue the website or the Spatial Hub service at any time without liability. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as we can, however this may not always be possible.
  2. If we do discontinue the Spatial Hub service, we may close your account and delete our records of your registration details and your Personal Data without any liability to you. We may need to retain records and your Personal Data beyond closure of your account, in which case we shall do so in accordance with the Privacy Notice.
This is version 1.0
Last Updated on 19/05/2026