WIREDGOV

Update from Scotland's Chief Statistician.

Scotland's Chief Statistician recently published the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2013-2014. This version updates the previous version (2011-2012) with the latest available settlement population figures and drive time estimates. The definitions of urban and rural areas underlying the classification are unchanged.

The publication includes background information, methodology and guidance on the use of the classification, and also the geographic information to allow analysts to use the classification in their research. The key points are:

• The classification is consistent with the Government’s core definition of rurality which defines settlements of 3,000 people or less to be rural. It also classifies areas as remote based on a drive time of 30 minutes or more from settlements of at least 10,000 people.
• Changes to settlement sizes and boundary changes have resulted in some changes in classification to some settlements.
• The populations of Forth William (Highland) and Ellon (Aberdeenshire) have risen above the 10,000 population threshold and are now classed as ‘other urban’ areas. This has increased accessibility in both these parts of the country.
• The settlements Aviemore (Highland), Old Meldrum (Aberdeenshire), Inverkip (Inverclyde) and Cleland (North Lanarkshire) now have population estimates above the 3,000 threshold. In the 2013-14 classification they are now classed as ‘small town’ as opposed to a ‘rural area’.
• Culross and Low Valleyfield are now included in the settlement boundary of High Valleyfield. As a result High Valleyfield moves to being classed as a ‘small town’ in the 2013-2014 classification.
• Boundary changes to Greater Glasgow have resulted in quite marked changes to the classification of some areas that were previously included within its boundary. Coatbridge and Airdrie, and Motherwell and Belshill are no longer part of Greater Glasgow but now classified as ‘other urban’ settlements. Some areas have moved from a classification of ‘large urban’ to ‘accessible rural’ for 2013-2014 as they are no longer included within the Greater Glasgow settlement.
• There were no noticeable drive time boundary changes due to any new or improved roads.

Notes To Editors

The full statistical publication can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/11/2763

Further information on the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification can be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/urbanrural

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About