Get a clear summary of the UK's Special Protection Areas list, the update process led by JNCC and practical tips to download site data
The United Kingdom’s official register of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is presented as a set of tables covering sites across the UK. These tables are organised alphabetically within each country and include any cross-border site entries under every relevant jurisdiction.
For each site the list provides the site name, a unique site code, the country abbreviation and the area (Ha) figure, along with the site’s legal status.
To support users, the list links to a downloadable Standard Data Form for every site via its site code.
When a site’s details change, the corresponding table row and the linked standard data form are updated, and previous online versions are not retained. This approach keeps the online dataset current but means historical online snapshots are not preserved on the same pages.
How the SPA network is managed
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) coordinates an annual review of the UK SPA network, working in partnership with the country-level statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with offshore marine authorities where relevant. Changes arising from national processes are consolidated into the UK list during this update. For transparency, JNCC publishes a National Site Network Change log that records alterations made as part of each coordination cycle. The list of SPAs page also explicitly confirms the most recent coordination outcome: List of SPAs last updated 24 April 2026.
Accessing site records and practical tips
Every SPA entry on the list links to its Standard Data Form, which contains technical details and the authoritative area measurement. Use the site code as the quickest route to the correct download. Keep in mind that statutory bodies may adjust site details or boundaries between JNCC’s annual updates; therefore, for the latest boundary files or site-level changes, consult the relevant statutory nature conservation body website. If you want automated notifications, sign up for JNCC’s mailing list to receive alerts about network changes following the coordination process.
Understanding table columns and abbreviations
The list uses a small set of consistent fields: Site name (the commonly used title), Site code (a unique alphanumeric identifier), Country (abbreviations such as E, S, NI or combined codes like EW), Area (Ha) and Status (for example, “Classified SPA”). The area values are taken from the standard data forms and rounded to the nearest whole hectare to maintain consistency across entries.
Cross-border, offshore and special entries
Some sites span administrative boundaries or include marine areas. The list therefore includes entries classified with combined country codes or marked as offshore. These cross-border site and offshore entries are intentionally repeated under each applicable country heading so users scanning by nation will still find every relevant site. Where maritime extents are involved, the table will reflect the combined area (Ha) and show any composite country coding used for legal and management purposes.
Notes on currency, citation and next steps
Because the web tables and the linked Standard Data Forms are overwritten with the most recent versions, the site does not retain older online forms when changes are applied. For formal citation or historic comparison, users should download and archive the current form at the time of access. For the most up-to-date boundary datasets or detailed contact points, visit the relevant national statutory nature conservation body website. If you rely on SPA data regularly, subscribe to JNCC’s notifications to be informed after each annual coordination round and consult the National Site Network Change log for a clear record of what has changed.
