Local government in Scotland comprises 32 unitary local authorities, which are responsible for the provision of a range of public services such as education, licensing regulations, social care, transport and waste management. The current authority boundaries are largely a result of reorganization that took place in 1996, following the enactment of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 which abolished the two tier structure of regions and districts. Boundaries Scotland is responsible for recommendations on the definition of local authority boundaries, however, the definitive dataset is delineated by Ordnance Survey for inclusion in their BoundaryLine product.

Community councils are required to be established by local authorities. They are the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland. They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities and help to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent. Community councils are statutory consultees under various processes, such as for planning applications. There are many instances where polygons do not tessellate or snap to local authority boundaries. The Spatial Hub processing can correct for some minor gap errors (<5m) but not larger ones. Such gaps in the dataset mean that it cannot potentially be used for some kinds of spatial analysis e.g. point in polygon, because some point locations may fall within the gaps. These gaps either require amendment at source or approval for the IS to change.

This dataset is published as Open DataLocal government in Scotland comprises 32 unitary local authorities, which are responsible for the provision of a range of public services such as education, licensing regulations, social care, transport and waste management. The current authority boundaries are largely a result of reorganization that took place in 1996, following the enactment of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 which abolished the two tier structure of regions and districts. Boundaries Scotland is responsible for recommendations on the definition of local authority boundaries, however, the definitive dataset is delineated by Ordnance Survey for inclusion in their BoundaryLine product.

Local Authority is a generic term used to cover London Boroughs, Metropolitan Districts, Non-Metropolitan Districts, and Unitary Authorities in England; Unitary Authorities in Wales; Council Areas in Scotland; and Local Government Districts in Northern Ireland.

The Local Authorities area list contains 404 areas of the following constituent geographies:

• 36 Metropolitan Districts in England
• 201 Non-Metropolitan Districts in England
• 31 London Boroughs in England
• 54 Unitary Authorities in England
• 26 Local Government Districts in Northern Ireland
• 32 Council Areas in Scotland
• 22 Unitary Authorities in Wales
• 2 Census Merged Districts in England

Please visit ONS Beginner's Guide to UK Geography for more info.

The boundaries are available as either extent of the realm (usually this is the Mean Low Water mark but in some cases boundaries extend beyond this to include off shore islands) or

clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark).

The Scotland Heat Map provides estimates of annual heat demand for almost 3 million properties in Scotland. Demand is given in kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/yr). Property level estimates can be combined to give values for various geographies. Both domestic and non-domestic properties are included. This raster dataset gives the total estimated heat demand of properties within 50m x 50m grid squares covering all of Scotland. Heat demand is calculated by combining data from a number of sources, ensuring that the most appropriate data available is used for each property. The data can be used by local authorities and others to identify or inform opportunities for low carbon heat projects such as district heat networks. The Scotland Heat Map is produced by the Scottish Government. The most recent version is the Scotland Heat Map 2022, which was released to local authorities in November 2023. More information can be found in the documentation available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-heat-map-documents/

This data shows the local authority districts, council areas (Scotland) and unitary authorities for Great Britain. The attached Layer File can be used to symbolise the different types of boundaries. A JPEG image of the map is also contained in the download. This dataset was made from the OS OpenData Boundary Line product http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/products/boundary-line/index.html. GIS vector data. This dataset was first accessioned in the EDINA ShareGeo Open repository on 2012-05-10 and migrated to Edinburgh DataShare on 2017-02-21.

Community councils are required to be established by local authorities. They are the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland. They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities and help to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent. Community councils are statutory consultees under various processes, such as for planning applications. There are many instances where polygons do not tessellate or snap to local authority boundaries. The Spatial Hub processing can correct for some minor gap errors (<5m) but not larger ones. Such gaps in the dataset mean that it cannot potentially be used for some kinds of spatial analysis e.g. point in polygon, because some point locations may fall within the gaps. These gaps either require amendment at source or approval for the IS to change. "name", "url" and "status" are now MANDATORY fields for this dataset.

This file contains the digital vector boundaries for Local Authority Districts, in the United Kingdom, as at December 2022.The boundaries available are: (BGC) Generalised (20m) - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark).Contains both Ordnance Survey and ONS Intellectual Property Rights.

REST URL of Feature Access Service – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/Local_Authority_Districts_December_2022_UK_BGC_V2/FeatureServerREST URL of WFS Server –https://dservices1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/services/Local_Authority_Districts_December_2022_UK_BGC_V2/WFSServer?service=wfs&request=getcapabilitiesREST URL of Map Server –https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/Local_Authority_Districts_December_2022_UK_BGC_V2/MapServer

community council boundaries simplified - open dataCommunity councils are required to be established by local authorities. They are the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland. They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities and help to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent. Community councils are statutory consultees under various processes, such as for planning applications.There are many instances where polygons do not tessellate or snap to local authority boundaries. Such gaps in the dataset mean that it cannot potentially be used for some kinds of spatial analysis e.g. point in polygon, because some point locations may fall within the gaps.Schema;Local Authority CodeLocal AuthorityCommunity Council Name

Background maps have been provided to assist Scottish local authorities in support of the Review and Assessment of local air quality. These provide background concentrations of NOx, NO2, and PM10. Modelled background mass concentrations of each pollutant can be downloaded for each 1 km x 1 km grid square in Scotland in the form of comma separated (CSV) files. Co-ordinates are given for the centre of each 1 km x 1 km grid square. 2018 background concentrations are provided for each 1 km x 1 km grid square and for each local authority area. Projected background concentrations have been calculated for 2018 to 2030 from a base year of 2018. A separate CSV file is available for each Local Authority area, pollutant, and year from 2018 to 2030.

This data shows the local authority districts, council areas (Scotland) and unitary authorities for Great Britain. A JPEG image of the map is also contained in the download.

A ‘polling district’ is a geographical subdivision of an electoral area such as an electoral Ward within which a polling place is designated. The Representation of the People Act 1983 places a duty on LA to divide the local authority area into polling districts based on ward boundaries, and to designate a polling place for each district. LAs also have a duty to keep these polling arrangements under review. The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduced amendments to the 1983 Act (which in turn has been superseded by The Electoral Administration Act 2013). Now local authorities must conduct a full review (with public consultation) of its polling districts and polling places every four years, however adjustments to the boundaries of polling districts and the designation of polling places within LA wards can be proposed at any time in response to changes in ward boundaries or to the availability of premises that can be reasonably designated as polling places.

The Scotland Heat Map is a tool to help plan for the reduction of carbon emissions from heat in buildings. This service allows users to download spatial data from the map. The Scotland Heat Map is produced by the Scottish Government. The most recent version is the Scotland Heat Map 2022, which was released to local authorities in November 2023. More information can be found in the documentation available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-heat-map-documents/

Scottish legislation (Section 17) of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 dictates that records of culverts must be created and maintained. Specifically: (1) Every local authority must prepare a map which shows (or more than one map which, taken together, show) relevant bodies of water and sustainable urban drainage systems in its area. (2) Each map must - (a) be prepared by such date as the Scottish Ministers may direct, (b) be prepared at a scale that the authority considers most appropriate, and (c) contain such information and be in such form as the Scottish Ministers may specify in regulations. (3) A local authority must, from time to time, review and where appropriate update the map (or maps) prepared for its area under subsection (1). (4) A local authority must make available for public inspection the map (or maps) prepared under this section for the time being applicable to its area. (5) In this section and section 18 - 'relevant body of water' - (a) means - (i) a body of surface water other than a stretch of coastal water, or (ii) a body of underground water forming part of a watercourse (but not including a watercourse which is wholly underground), but (b) does not include sewers and drains which drain into sewers, 'sustainable urban drainage system' has the meaning given in section 59(1) of the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 (c.47). Most Local Authorities have contributed (natural) culvert data to the new OS MasterMap Water Network Layer either through providing data to the Scottish Government or through the James Hutton Institute. As this data is now live, a mechanism for managing/maintaining/updating this data needs to be put in place. SCOTS (Society of Chief Officers for Transportation in Scotland) have approved for this dataset to be managed by the Spatial Hub and any amended data can be uploaded (and potentially downloaded) before being shared with OSMA members and the OS. We have initially created a point and line data layer for the data we have been sent by some LAs ( the line format is obviously a more detailed and accurate depiction of the feature). This is the best available information at the time of submission and dimensions and routes may well be different in reality. The LA 'culverts' as included in the OS MasterMap Water Network Layer is also available as a standalone layer.

Local voluntary groups, set up by statute (Local Government Scotland 1973), intended to act as a voice for their local community, representing the views of the community to local authorities and other public bodies operating in their area. Dataset shows which CCs are operational(=1) and which are inactive(=0) Updated as necessary, with Committee approval. See Contact for update information.

This file contains the names and codes for local authority districts (LAD) and unitary authorities (UA) in the United Kingdom as at 31st December 2021. (File Size - 48KB)Field Names - LAD21CD, LAD21NM, LAD21NMW, FIDField Types - Text, Text, Text, NumberField Lengths - 9, 36, 24FID = The FID, or Feature ID is created by the publication process when the names and codes / lookup products are published to the Open Geography portal. File includes the following LAD changes. E06000061 - North Northamptonshire, E06000062 , West Northamptonshire - new unitary authorities created - (Northamptonshire county abolished)E07000150 - Corby, E07000151 - Daventry, E07000152 - East Northamptonshire, E07000153 - Kettering, E07000154 - Northampton, E07000155 - South Northamptonshire, E07000156 - Wellingborough abolished

Annual estimates of balanced UK regional gross domestic product (GDP). Current price estimates and chained volume measures for local authority districts, London boroughs, unitary authorities and Scottish Council areas.

The NTEM SynthPop project required open data, as per OGL License (v1.0).

The data register:

data_register:
geography_msoa_ew:
description: MSOA boundaries, 2021.
geography: MSOA
region: England and Wales
last accessed: 10/06/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::middle-layer-super-output-areas-december-2021-boundaries-ew-bsc-v2/about
notes: (BSC) Super generalised (200m) - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark).
path: "MSOA_2021_EW_BSC_V2.gpkg"
source: Open Geography Portal
year: 2021
geography_iz_sc:
description: Proposed IZ boundaries, 2022.
geography: IZ
region: Scotland
last accessed: 19/08/2024
link: https://scotgov.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=90bf46cbf2254e80820a98d815c8fbcf
notes: Proposed Intermediate Zones 2022 Boundaries - for consultation
path: "Proposed_IZ_2022_Boundaries.zip"
source: "Scotland Census"
year: 2022
geography_oa_ew:
description: OA boundaries, 2021.
geography: OA
region: England and Wales
last accessed: 24/06/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::output-areas-december-2021-boundaries-ew-bgc-v2/about
notes: (BGC) Generalised (20m) - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark).
path: "boundaries/Output_Areas_2021_EW_BGC_V2.gpkg"
source: Open Geography Portal
year: 2021
geography_lad_2018_gb:
description: LAD boundaries, 2018.
geography: LAD
region: England, Wales and Scotland
last accessed: 19/11/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::local-authority-districts-december-2018-boundaries-gb-bfc-2/about
notes: This file contains the digital vector boundaries for Local Authority Districts in Great Britain, as at December 2018.
path: "boundaries/LAD_Dec_2018_Boundaries_GB_BFC_2022_544341751432792127.gpkg"
source: Open Geography Portal
year: 2018
geography_msoa_population_weighted_centroids_ew:
description: Population-weighted centroids for MSOA boundaries.
geography: MSOA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 31/05/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk
notes: "This file contains the digital population weighted centroids for Middle layer Super Output Areas for England and Wales as at 31 December 2021. The centroids were created using Full Resolution, Extent of the Realm boundaries. Contains both Ordnance Survey and ONS Intellectual Property Rights."
path: "boundaries/Middle_Super_Output_Areas_DEC_2021_EW_PWC.gpkg"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
geography_msoa_2011_2021_ew_lookup_best_fit:
description: Lookup table between 2011 and 2021 MSOA boundaries and 2022 Local Authority Districts (best fit).
geography: MSOA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 31/05/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk
notes: "A best fit lookup file between Middle layer Super Output Areas (MSOA) as at December 2011 and MSOAs as at December 2021 in England and Wales. The lookup contains all the 2011 MSOAs (7,201) and these are point-in-polygon to the 2021 MSOA full extent boundaries (which contains 7,182 records, so 82 MSOAs are missing from the 2021 MSOAs)."
path: "boundaries/MSOA_(2011)_to_MSOA_(2021)_to_Local_Authority_District_(2022)_Best_Fit_Lookup_for_EW_(V2).csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
geography_msoa_2011_2021_ew_lookup_exact_fit:
description: Lookup table between 2011 and 2021 MSOA boundaries and 2022 Local Authority Districts (exact fit).
geography: MSOA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 31/05/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk
notes: >
This is an exact fit lookup file between Middle layer Super Output Areas as at December 2011 and Middle layer Super Output Areas as at December 2021 and Local Authority Districts as at December 2022 in England and Wales. This product has been provided with a change indicator field, that define the lookup between 2011 and 2021 MSOA. This field indicates which output areas / super output areas have changed between 2011 and 2021. This version 2 has had some changes to the change indicator field where splits have gone to complexes in under 10 MSOAs. There are four designated categories to describe the changes, and these are as follows:
U - No Change from 2011 to 2021. This means that direct comparisons can be made between these 2011 and 2021 MSOA.
S - Split. This means that the 2011 MSOA has been split into two or more 2021 MSOA. There will be one record for each of the 2021 MSOA that the 2011 MSOA has been split into. This means direct comparisons can be made between estimates for the single 2011 MSOA and the estimates from the aggregated 2021 MSOA.
M - Merged. 2011 MSOA have been merged with another one or more 2011 MSOA to form a single 2021 MSOA. This means direct comparisons can be made between the aggregated 2011 MSOAs’ estimates and the single 2021 MSOA’s estimates.
X - The relationship between 2011 and 2021 MSOA is irregular and fragmented. This has occurred where 2011 MSOA have been redesigned because of local authority district boundary changes, or to improve their social homogeneity. These can’t be easily mapped to equivalent 2021 MSOA like the regular splits (S) and merges (M), and therefore like for like comparisons of estimates for 2011 MSOA and 2021 MSOA are not possible.'
path: "boundaries/MSOA_(2011)_to_MSOA_(2021)_to_Local_Authority_District_(2022)_Lookup_for_England_and_Wales.gpkg"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
lookup_msoa_2021_region_ew:
description: Lookup between 2021 Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA), built up areas (BUA), local authority districts (LAD) and regions (RGN) (best fit).
geography: MSOA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 24/06/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::msoa-2021-to-bua-to-lad-to-region-december-2022-best-fit-lookup-in-ew-v2/about
notes: "A best fit lookup file between Middle layer Super Output Areas (MSOA) as at December 2011 and MSOAs as at December 2021 in England and Wales. The lookup contains all the 2011 MSOAs (7,201) and these are point-in-polygon to the 2021 MSOA full extent boundaries (which contains 7,182 records, so 82 MSOAs are missing from the 2021 MSOAs)."
path: "boundaries/MSOA_(2021)_to_Built-up_Area_to_Local_Authority_District_to_Region_(December_2022)_Lookup_in_England_and_Wales_v2.csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
lookup_oa_2011_oa_2021_ew:
description: Lookup between 2011 Output Areas (OA11) and 2021 Output Areas (OA21).
geography: OA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 28/08/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::oa-2011-to-oa-2021-to-local-authority-district-2022-exact-fit-lookup-in-ew-v2/about
notes: "This is an exact-fit lookup file between Output Areas as at December 2011 and Output Areas as at December 2021 and Local Authority Districts as at December 2022 in England and Wales."
path: "boundaries/OA11_OA21_LAD22_EW_LU_Exact_fit_V2_7175137222568651779.csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
lookup_oa_2021_msoa_2021_ew:
description: Lookup between Output Areas (OA 2021) and Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA 2021).
geography: OA, MSOA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 28/08/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::output-area-2021-to-lsoa-to-msoa-to-lad-december-2021-exact-fit-lookup-in-ew-v3/about
notes: "A lookup between Output Areas (OA), Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOA), Middle layer Super Output Areas (LSOA) and Local Authority Districts (LAD) as at 31 December 2021 in England and Wales."
path: "boundaries/Output_Area_to_Lower_layer_Super_Output_Area_to_Middle_layer_Super_Output_Area_to_Local_Authority_District_(December_2021)_Lookup_in_England_and_Wales_v3.csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
census_households_oa_2021_ew:
description: TS041-oa - Number of Households (output areas).
geography: OA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 07/08/2024
link: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/output/census/2021/census2021-ts041.zip
notes: Number of Households (oa).
path: "census_2021/census2021-ts041-oa.csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
ruc_oa_ew:
description: Rural / Urban classification at Output Area (OA) level.
geography: OA
region: England & Wales
last accessed: 07/08/2024
link: https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/53360acabd1e4567bc4b8d35081b36ff/about
notes: "This file provides a rural-urban view of 2011 Output Areas (OA) in England and Wales."
path: "ruc/RUC11_OA11_EW.csv"
source: Office for National Statistics
year: 2021
geography_ntem:
description: NTEM zoning system.
geography: NTEM
region: GB
path: "..."
year: 2021
template_populationsim:
description: Template PopulationSim set up.
geography: MSOA
region: GB
path: "template_populationsim"
source: PopulationSim repo & Arup
year: 2021
nts_persons:
description: Individuals table from the National Travel Survey for the period 2002-2022.
geography: Region
region: England, Wales & Scotland
path: "nts/individual_eul_2002-2022.tab"
nts_households:
description: Households table from the National Travel Survey for

The Scottish Government published updated versions of Data Zones and Intermediate Zones (December 2024).Data Zones and Intermediate Zones have been updated to reflect changes to population and other geographical boundaries since they were last revised in 2014 following the 2011 Census. In particular, the proposed changes have been produced to align with new population data from the 2022 Census.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.What are Data Zones and Intermediate Zones?Data Zones are statistical geographies used to produce small area statistics at a local level. They are designed to have a population of between 500 and 1,000 people, making them small enough to describe communities while also being large enough to avoid disclosing personal information.They serve two main functions in the production of official statistics. Firstly, they provide a standard, stable geography for the production and publication of statistics at a local area on a wide range of topics. Secondly, aggregations of Data Zones can be used to provide estimates for higher level geographies where official statistics might not otherwise be available.Intermediate Zones are similar to Data Zones but cover a larger population and area. They are used to produce local area statistics where statistics cannot be published at Data Zone level due to the risk of disclosing sensitive information.How Data Zones and Intermediate Zones will be usedThe revised Data Zones boundaries have been published on the Scottish Government’s spatial data platform and are now available for use by statistics producers.Data Zone BoundariesData Zone CentroidsIntermediate Zone BoundariesIntermediate Zone CentroidsA csv geography lookup table aggregating from 2022 Data Zones to higher level geographies is available on statistics.gov.scot.Census data for the new Data Zones and Intermediate Zones will be published in 2025. A lookup file that links Census Output Areas to Data Zones and Intermediate Zones has been published by National Records of Scotland.If you have any questions about Data Zones and Intermediate Zones please contact statistics.enquiries@gov.scot.Statistics Updates to Data Zones and Intermediate Zones now published - Statistics

This dataset is published as Open DataDelivery of frontline healthcare services in Scotland are the responsibility of 14 regional National Health Service (NHS) Boards that report to the Scottish Government. Current boundaries of NHS Health Boards in Scotland are defined by National Health Service (Variation of Areas of Health Boards) (Scotland) Order 2013 (SSI 2013/347), which came into force on April 1st 2014, and replaces the previous definition based upon the former Regions and Districts of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. This change was made in order to re-align Health Boards with the combined area of each Local Authority that they serve. Subsequent changes to Local Authorities will result in corresponding amendments to Health Board boundaries in order to maintain alignment.