London Output Area Classification

The ability to understand the characteristics of an area and its population is crucial to decision making. At a time of constrained finances across all sectors of service delivery, getting resource allocation right is of paramount importance. Of equal concern are the costs associated with acquiring the evidence needed to make those informed decisions. This is where the newly launched London Output Area Classification (LOAC) comes into its own.

As an open source geospatial classification, the LOAC uses a combination of over 60 Census variables to classify every single small area in London within a hierarchical structure.

The potential uses of this dataset are myriad, from finding similar areas across London in order to compare performance of key services and share best practice, to private sector profiling of areas for potential investment and third sector targeting of resources to maximum effect – the possibilities are endless.

In order to help users get the most from LOAC, the GLA have built an interactive portal to allow quick and easy interrogation. Users can profile their area, compare areas, find where similar areas are across London and download the raw data too. Come and see the data in action for yourselves and as always, we’re always keen to know how you use the data and any ideas for how it could be improved.

As well as providing the raw data tables, [click here for tools] (/gla-publications/loac/) to help you use LOAC:

• a comparison tool allowing you to understand similarities and differences at Ward and Borough levels
• interactive charts showing which Census demograhics are particulary high or low
• a mapping tool to easily see which areas are covered by the groups

The London Area Classification builds on the [UK 2011 Area Classifications] (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/products/area-classifications/ns-area-classifications/ns-2011-area-classifications/index.html), but provides a finer level of classification for London.