Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

This FAQ will be added to over time. Please contact us if you have questions about the website and/or datasets.

What has been changed on the new website?
We've made the following changes:

  • The site layout, and look and feel, have been updated
  • The dataset listings has been updated in a number of ways:
    • Extra data breakdowns are available, including LAA theme / diversity / disability / children / older people – these filters are accessible from the left-hand-side menu
    • We now provide direct linking to Nomis datasets
    • Datasets are now provided with multiple links where appropriate
    • An additional filter to identify those datasets available for several time-points has been added
  • The system now links to Local Information Systems resources, based on the Local Information Systems: A review of their role, characteristics and benefits report. The resources are grouped by region
  • We now link to analytical resources, with descriptions and links. The resources are grouped by Data sources, Toolkits, Using data sources.

How often is the website updated?
The website is updated every fortnight with new and revised datasets. You can register for an email alert identifying all changes to the signposted datasets. The what's new page also identifies all new and revised datasets.

What data sources and suppliers have been included in the Data for Neighbourhood Renewal signposting website?
This project is based on detailed examination of a range of sources, providing a robust and comprehensive signposting tool of what data is available for neighbourhood renewal practitioners. We interviewed a range of data owners and users, as well as carrying out desk-based research into online data-sources and relevant literature. The initial project was carried out over September and October 2005, with a major update carried out in July and August 2007. This website links to data sources across Central Government and other national agencies, including:

Who is this project aimed at?
The emphasis on evidence-based delivery and decision making means that there is an increased need for detailed information on neighbourhood renewal issues. The Neighbourhood Renewal Analysis Division at the Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned this “Data for Neighbourhood Renewal” project to identify and signpost datasets and resources to help local partnerships target and monitor local programmes. This resource is likely to be used by those preparing the Local Area Agreements, LSP coordinators, those working at a neighbourhood level: indeed anyone seeking to get a robust understanding of patterns below the district level. The data and resources highlighted here are therefore aimed at people working on a variety of questions such as:

- Where can I find information to help me target specific programmes at the right areas and communities?

  • Are we meeting our Floor Targets?
  • Are our priority neighbourhood areas closing the gap?
  • What evidence supports our funding proposals?
  • Are our priorities right - is our strategy helping the most deprived areas and groups?
  • What is the most recent /most detailed data available on X?
  • How can we evaluate and performance manage our programmes and services
  • Where can we find information to develop baseline area profiles for Neighbourhood Renewal Fund /Local Area Agreements /Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and/or other programmes?
  • What communities are proving harder to reach?

So how do we make effective use of this data and information - is there a source for case studies and what works?
The Analytical tools link on the left links to guidance on how to obtain, analyse, interpret and present data. Additionally, the Renewal.net website provides an on-line guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal. Documents on the site include how to guides, case studies, project summaries and much more. Wherever possible, the documents are based on evaluated evidence.

Why have a signposting tool at all? Doesn't the Office for National Statistics Neighbourhood Statistics website act as a "one-stop-shop"?
Many Local Partnerships and other groups involved in Neighbourhood Renewal have highlighted the need for a comprehensive signposting tool - "we need information on what information is available". Additionally, many data sources are not yet included on the Neighbourhood Statistics website but are available from other sources. This Data for Neighbourhood Renewal project and website commissioned by the NRU aims to meet this need, building on previous NRU work.

Where else can we get more detailed data on X?
Many datasets are not freely available from national sources - the full "Data for Neighbourhood Renewal" report highlights gaps in information under each of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal themes. In particular Local Partnerships may share data that is not available publicly, for example detailed small area crime datasets. Other data suppliers may provide data directly to users for a fee, for example the Land Registry provide house price sale data for individual properties. The full report additionally highlights potentially useful local partnership and commercial datasets.

What happens when new datasets are published?
The Data for Neighbourhood Renewal website is updated every fortnight to include new datasets that have been released, as well as other relevant datasets we become aware of. If you think there are datasets that should be included here, please contact us.

How can we use the resources on this website on our own websites? What about "interoperability"?
You can use the resources on this website in three different ways:

  • You can link directly to any of the pages on this website by simply copying the relevant URL into your web-pages
  • You are free to download the list of resources to use in any way you wish (please reference this website as the source of the material including the URL). If you wish to do this you might like to use the "xml" version of the resource pages, which many applications can import directly (there is an "xml" link on the right-hand side of all the resource pages on this website)
  • You can use the resources on this website directly on your own website and/or applications, by calling the xml pages directly and formatting the returned results into your own web-pages (please reference this website as the source of the material including the URL). This "interoperability" functionality allows the resources on this website to be used by other websites directly all changes and updates to the resources on this website will be immediately incorporated into those websites using this feature. Please contact us if you have set this up, or would like more details. In the near future we intend to add a "how-to" page on this site explaining this feature.

I've got a query that isn't answered here, what can I do?
Please contact us with any comments, queries and/or feedback. We will add to this list of "Frequently asked questions" over time.