FAQ

What it’s purpose?

The platform is an interactive web application that brings together a wide range of UK datasets into a single map. It allows you to explore, compare and analyse information such as demographics, housing, employment, business activity, income, tourism, health and more at a local level.

Where does the data come from?

The platform uses trusted public data from official organisations including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Nomis, NISRA, National Records of Scotland, Companies House, OpenStreetMap and other reputable sources. Every dataset includes information about its source, allowing you to understand where the data originated.

How current is the data?

Each dataset reflects the latest official release available from its original source. As different organisations publish data on different schedules, there is no single update cycle across the platform.

The underlying map is built using the most recent UK Census geography and population data. This provides the highest level of spatial accuracy for distributing and analysing datasets consistently across the country, ensuring that comparisons between different datasets remain as accurate as possible.

Where newer population estimates are available, these can be explored as separate datasets, while the underlying map continues to use census-based population data to maintain a consistent analytical framework.

What areas can I analyse?

The platform covers the whole of the United Kingdom. Data can be explored at multiple geographic levels, from local neighbourhoods through to local authorities, regions and the four UK nations, depending on the dataset.

What do the P5–P95, ±2SD and Full Range options mean?

These options control how values are coloured on the map.

P5–P95 (default) excludes the most extreme 5% of values at both ends of the distribution. This prevents a handful of unusually high or low areas from dominating the colour scale, making differences across the majority of the UK much easier to see.

±2 Standard Deviations (±2SD) colours values within two standard deviations of the mean. This is a commonly used statistical approach that highlights areas which are unusually high or low while reducing the influence of extreme outliers.

Full Range uses every value in the dataset, including the highest and lowest observations. This provides the complete picture but can make differences between most areas appear less noticeable when a small number of extreme values exist.

What is the difference between Gross values and Per 100,000 population?

Many datasets can be viewed in two ways.

Gross shows the total value for each area. This is useful when you want to understand the overall size or volume of something—for example, the total number of businesses or new homes.

Per 100,000 population adjusts the data for population size. This allows fair comparisons between areas with different population levels by showing the rate rather than the total. For example, a small authority may have fewer businesses overall but a higher number of businesses relative to its population than a much larger city.

What are LAD, ITL1, ITL2, ITL3 and Country?

The platform allows you to analyse data at several geographic levels.

LAD (Local Authority District) is the most detailed administrative level used for most government statistics and includes councils such as Birmingham, Leeds or Cornwall.

ITL3 regions combine groups of neighbouring local authorities into smaller statistical regions.

ITL2 regions combine multiple ITL3 regions into larger sub-regions.

ITL1 regions represent the largest statistical regions within the UK, such as London, Scotland, Wales, the South East or the North West.

Country aggregates data to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Many datasets are published at different geographic levels. The platform automatically allocates and aggregates them so they can be explored consistently across all available levels.

What is the Scatter Plot?

The Scatter Plot is a Premium feature that allows you to compare any two datasets against one another. It helps identify relationships, trends and outliers by plotting thousands of locations simultaneously, making it easy to discover patterns that would be difficult to identify from a map alone.

What are Rankings?

Rankings is a Premium feature that allows you to rank locations across the UK by any available dataset. Quickly identify the highest and lowest performing areas, compare different geographic levels, and explore how rankings change over time where historical data is available.

What is Area Analysis?

Area Analysis is a Premium feature that builds a comprehensive profile for any selected location. Compare dozens of indicators across multiple themes, view percentile rankings, benchmark areas against regional and national averages, and explore historical trends to gain a deeper understanding of every place.

What is Trends?

Trends is a Premium feature that lets you chart how any dataset has changed over time. Overlay up to two datasets on the same chart—even when they're measured in different units, using a true dual-axis view—switch between gross and per-capita figures, and compare how trends differ across areas and geographic levels. 

What are Custom Map Filters?

Custom Map Filters is a Premium feature that lets you combine multiple datasets into a single set of screening criteria. Set your own thresholds—for example, population above a certain level and demand above a certain score—and the map instantly highlights every area that meets all of your conditions at once, making it easy to shortlist locations against several requirements simultaneously. 

Can I compare historical data?

Yes. Many datasets include historical information, allowing you to view changes over time and explore long-term trends where source data is available. Use Trends to chart this directly, or view historical changes for a specific area within the Map or Area Analysis / Rankings. 

Is the platform free to use?

Yes. Core mapping functionality and a wide range of datasets are available free of charge. Premium features—including Scatter Plot, Rankings, Area Analysis, Trends and Custom Map Filters—as well as exclusive proprietary datasets, are available with a Premium subscription. 

Who is the platform designed for?

The platform is designed for businesses, researchers, consultants, journalists, local authorities, investors, charities, students and anyone interested in understanding places across the UK through trusted statistical data.

Can I use the data commercially?

Many of the platform's public datasets originate from official organisations and remain subject to their respective licensing terms; always check the relevant source's licence before commercial use. Where we do not indicate an external licence, you're welcome to use and republish charts, statistics or insights drawn from our free public datasets—including commercially—provided you clearly cite Deltahex (deltahex.uk) as the source. 

Premium datasets and proprietary derived datasets (marked with a ★) remain the intellectual property of this platform and may not be redistributed, republished or commercially exploited, with or without attribution, without our permission.