Identification info

Alternative title

2011 OA's

Metadata Language

English

Character set

UTF8

Dataset Reference Date (Creation)

2013-08-15

Dataset Reference Date (Revision)

2013-10-07

Dataset Reference Date (Publication)

2013-10-07

Identifier

www.nrscotland.gov.uk / OutputArea2011

Maintenance and update frequency

As needed

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

• Statistical units

GEMET - Concepts, version 2.4

• census survey

• statistical data

IPSV Subjects List

• Censuses

• Boundaries

Limitations on Public Access

Other restrictions

Other constraints

No limitations to public access

Use constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

Open Government Licence

Other constraints

The following statements must be used when reproducing or using this material: Copyright National Records of Scotland, contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right (insert year).

Spatial representation type

Vector

Denominator

10000

Topic category

• Boundaries

Code

S92000003

 

Code

EPSG:4258

Code

EPSG:27700

Distribution Information

 

Data quality info

Quality Scope

Dataset

Statement

This dataset shows the 2011 Census Output Areas (OAs). OAs are the smallest geographical unit for which Census data is released, and as a result, they act as the basic “building-blocks” for the creation of other statistical geographies, eg Datazones, council areas. The OAs are constructed by aggregating together a small number of postcodes. Because the OAs cover small areas and contain relatively small numbers of households and population (households in the range 20 to 77; population >/= 50), there is only a limited amount of Census data that can be released without infringing confidentiality.

An important requirement during the creation of the 2011 OAs was to attempt to keep the boundaries the same, or similar, as the 2001 OAs – this would make it easier to compare over 10 years.

The process for creating the OAs was as follows:

Output Areas for the 2011 Census were created as groups of postcodes nesting as well as possible into the following geographies in descending order of preference when not all postcodes in the OA belong to a single combination of these area types:

• Council Area

• 2010 Locality

1. The 2011 census counts (population and households) were allocated to the individual postcodes which were assigned to 2001 OA, boundaries dissolved to create a set of 2001 OA based on the 2011 frozen postcodes. This highlighted the OAs which fell outside the stated parameters.

2. Where the 2001 OA dropped below the 2011 minimum threshold for confidentiality (50 persons and 20 households) it was merged with a neighbouring 2001 OA. In addition where 2001 OA had increased in size, particularly those which exceeded the 2011 recommended maximum threshold (approximately) 78 households) have been split where possible into two or more OA.

3 There are no OA below the lower threshold for the number of required households (20) and population (50)

4 As a result 46,351 Census 2011 OAs in Scotland have been created.

5. Spatial improvement. Of the OA created 349 are non contiguous because the polygons are separated by other output areas. It was agreed that the parts which did not contain master postcode (in most instances the smaller polygon) would be removed and the area merged with adjoining OA to create a single polygon where possible. This was purely a cosmetic exercise and did not affect census statistics, calculation of the master postcode, the higher area assignment of the area calculation for the OA all of which were based on all of the constituent parts of the OA. A boundary dataset detailing the OA parts which were removed is available together with a lookup file listing the affected postcodes and OAs. The dataset still contains non contiguous OA that are separated by water.

The boundaries are available for two geographic extents:

Extent of the Realm (EoR)

The boundaries in this dataset are to the Mean Low Water mark so that the coastline is extended to be consistent with Local Authorities.

and

Clipped to the coastline with inland water removed (MHW)

The boundaries in this dataset have been clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water Mark) with inland water removed. This version closely represents map users expectations of how a coastal boundary should look.

The Standard Area measurements were used to identify bodies of inland water and subsequently removed.

Revisions and Corrections

Revision to 2011 Output Area codes (13 September 2013)

An anomaly was discovered in the 2011 Census Output Area (OA) codes which were published on 15 August 2013. The anomaly meant that, whilst all the current 2011 Census OA codes were unique, they did not always run in sequential order by council area. We understood that this was creating additional work for some users so we decided to replace the current 2011 OA codes with new ones that run sequentially within each council area. The new codes start at S00088956 and end with S00135306.

The 2011 Census geography datasets published on 15 August 2013 were removed temporarily from the NRS website while this work was going on. No shape boundaries, population or household estimates for OAs changed as a result of this work, only the 9-character S-code they were assigned.

A lookup file linking the archived 2011 OA code to the new 2011 OA code has also been published to help users who have already started work using the archived set of OA codes. The archived set of codes range from S00042605 to S00088955.

Revision to Output Area boundaries at boundary between East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Council areas (7 October 2013)

Output Areas S00102734, S00102787, and S00128636 have been amended following a correction to Ordnance Survey BoundaryLine.

Correction to Output Area boundaries (7 October 2013)

Output Areas S00092480, S00092699, S00093130, S00094559, S00094726, S00102583, S00119179, S00119262, S00126169, S00126157, and S00133403 have been amended as part of the cosmetic exercise/spatial improvement described earlier. These ‘parts’ have been added to the Output Area Part Removed dataset.

 

Metadata

File identifier

e8544752-8d8e-4be4-8fad-68e7e70a90b8 XML

Metadata Language

English

Resource type

Dataset

Metadata Date

2025-02-11T13:37:28.696Z

Metadata standard name

UK GEMINI

Metadata standard version

2.3