“Targeted, local action requires smaller, manageable area data from the census”
Bristol City Council regularly use census information at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level to gain evidence for local targeted action and identify the density of tenure of private sector housing and associated data such as deprivation, older people or vulnerable households.
For example, resources can be appropriately targeted at areas that would most benefit from intervention either through renewal activity and Home Action Zones for privately owned property or designation of discretionary licensing areas for private rented sector housing or enforcement action. Bristol also uses this information to select areas for energy efficiency initiatives. Energy Company Obligation (ECO) areas (grants for affordable warmth) are based on LSOA so it makes sense to follow suit.
Targeted, local action rarely covers a whole ward which is too large geographically and therefore the data has to be broken down to smaller, manageable areas for action. Consequently, the LSOA level census data is a valuable data resource as the data has been collected from every household, which is the only true statistically valid dataset at this level.