Urban Rural Classification - Scotland

Intermediate zones are a statistical geography that sit between data zones and local authorities, created for use with the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) programme (now known as statistics.gov.scot) and the wider public sector. Intermediate zones are used for the dissemination of statistics that are not suitable for release at the data zone level because of the sensitive nature of the statistic, or for reasons of reliability. Intermediate Zones were designed to meet constraints on population thresholds (2,500 - 6,000 household residents), to nest within local authorities (at the time of the Census), and to be built up from aggregates of data zones. Intermediate zones represent a relatively stable geography that can be used to analyse change over time, with changes only occurring after a Census. This dataset represents the intermediate zones that were created following the 2022 Census, with 1,334 intermediate zones covering the whole of Scotland.

Data Zones are the key geography for the dissemination of small area statistics in Scotland and are widely used across the public sector. Composed of groups of Census Output Areas, Data Zones are large enough that statistics can be presented accurately without fear of disclosure and yet small enough that they can be used to represent communities. They are designed to have roughly standard populations of 500 to 1,000 household residents, nest within local authorities (at the time of the Census), and have compact shapes that respect physical boundaries where possible. When Data Zones were originally created for the 2001 Census, they were designed to contain households with similar social characteristics. Aggregations of Data Zones can be used to provide estimates for higher level geographies where official statistics might not otherwise be available. Data Zones also represent a relatively stable geography that can be used to analyse change over time, with changes only occurring after a Census. Following the update to Data Zones using 2022 Census data, there are now 7,392 Data Zones covering the whole of Scotland.

Intermediate zone centroids are point features that represent the population weighted centre of intermediate zones – the geography used for the dissemination of small area statistics in Scotland when results are unsuitable for release at data zone level. These centroids are used to link intermediate zones to other (higher level) geographies and produce a 'best-fit' match. Intermediate zones can then be aggregated to approximate this larger area of interest or higher level geography that statistics wouldn’t normally be available for. Intermediate zones represent a relatively stable geography that can be used to analyse change over time, with changes only occurring after a Census. This dataset represents the intermediate zones that were created following the 2022 Census, with 1,334 intermediate zones covering the whole of Scotland.

This dataset provides a digital boundary for Prime Agricultural Land (otherwise termed "best and most versatile") in Scotland based on an amalgamation of classes 1, 2 and 3.1 of the Land Capability for Agriculture (LCA) maps. The LCA classification is used to rank land on the basis of its potential productivity and cropping flexibility. This is determined by the extent to which the physical characteristics of the land (soil, climate and relief) impose long term restrictions on its use. The source LCA maps are available from the James Hutton Institute at both 1:250,000 (national coverage) and 1:50,000 (partial coverage) scales. This LCA Prime Land boundary has been produced from a hybrid version of the LCA classification which combines the 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scale datasets. The hybrid dataset uses the more detailed 1:50,000 scale data where it exists in preference to the 1:250,000 scale data as it is seen as the definitive mapped assessment. The majority of prime land boundary is sourced from the 1:50,000 scale mapping, with that sourced from the 1:250,000 map limited to north-west of Montrose, Machrihanish, a small area adjacent to the Black Isle, west of Campbeltown and south of Jedburgh. This prime land dataset should be used in favour of previous versions which only referenced the 1:250,000 scale mapping. The LCA Prime Land boundary supports planners and agricultural officers in assessing cases made for development and determining priorities in relation to retaining areas of high quality agricultural land, i.e. that with a high capacity to produce food.

Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.

geoBoundaries ADM2 boundaries for United Kingdom: 216 units, representing 2019. Source: Office for National Statistics Open Geography Portal. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/