Planes fitted with cameras will provide more up-to-date aerial photography of Great Britain than ever before.

Over the last two decades, Ashby-based Bluesky International has provided fresh nationwide aerial survey imagery and height data every three or five years.

But as its annual flying season gets underway, Bluesky has announced it will now capture images every other year.

The company says it will be able to provide a level of currency not matched by any other UK supplier.

And it will support Bluesky's work in helping clients monitor everything from new building locations to the density and length of the nation's hedgerows.

Rachel Tidmarsh, CEO, said: "The move is part of our long-term strategy to provide our customers with the most up-to-date and highest resolution imagery and height data for the whole of Great Britain.

"We've invested in additional aircraft, operators, technicians and technology to be able to achieve this ambitious schedule by the end of 2024." 

The updated flying programme will ensure each of the 240,000 square kilometres of Great Britain is freshly photographed every two years. 

It will also see the introduction of a highly-detailed 5cm resolution as standard capture for urban areas - with the remainder captured at 12.5cms.

The move will also support other Bluesky products - including its National Tree Map™ (NTM™) and National Hedgerow Map™ (NHM™).

Rachel added: "We're all too aware of the pressures faced by our customers who need current data at their fingertips to accurately support the delivery of their projects. 

"There's an expectation today of increased capture frequency and, with growing concerns about tackling issues like climate change and achieving targets for carbon emission reduction, we need to ensure we are in a position to meet their needs."

Bluesky supplies market-leading aerial photography and data to clients including local authority planners, national park conservationists, and the Metropolitan Police. 

It employs more than 100 people in the UK, Ireland, US, and India.