Sources & Methodology

Sources & Methodology

This page explains how CityAffairs.co.uk researches, sources and maintains the local city data, guides and comparisons published on this site. Our goal is to be transparent about the types of sources we use, how we treat and compare data, how content is reviewed and updated, and how you can report errors or request data clarification.

Who produces this content

Content is researched, written and maintained by the CityAffairs.co.uk Editorial Team. Where an individual author or external contributor is named on an article, the byline reflects that contributor; contributor bios disclose role and any relevant affiliations. We do not invent personal credentials — any professional or institutional affiliations are stated only when verifiable and directly relevant.

Editorial standards

  • We aim for accurate, balanced and useful information focused on UK cities, local living and relocation needs.
  • Articles should cite the primary public source(s) behind key facts and figures whenever possible.
  • Opinion and analysis are labelled as such; factual statements are supported by sources.
  • We keep editorial decisions independent of commercial relationships; sponsored or paid content is clearly disclosed.

Preferred source types

When researching, we prioritise the following source types (in roughly this order):

  • Official government and public-sector datasets (national statistics agencies, government departments, legislation, regulators).
  • Local government and council publications and open data (local authorities’ published datasets, planning documents, service reports).
  • Public agencies and service providers (transport operators, health bodies, education regulators, police forces where they publish data).
  • Primary records and registers (property transaction registers, planning registers, official registers where published).
  • Peer-reviewed academic research, recognised think-tanks and established industry reports for specialised topics.
  • Reputable news organisations for context and reporting when used to supplement primary data.
  • Commercial data providers and paid data feeds — used only when necessary and identified clearly in the article.

UK sources we commonly use

For UK city and local-area coverage we frequently draw on public, official and specialist UK sources such as the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GOV.UK publications, Land Registry and Valuation Office data, Department for Transport materials, Department for Education/Ofsted reports, NHS Digital, police force statistics and local authority data portals. We also use regional statistics agencies where appropriate. Specific sources used for an article are cited in that article.

Source selection and citation policy

  • We prefer primary sources — the original dataset, report or statutory publication behind a claim.
  • Articles include links to the main sources used. Where a dataset is behind a paywall or requires special access, we note this and explain limitations.
  • If we rely on secondary sources (summaries, news reports, aggregated indexes), we explain why and aim to trace back to the primary source when possible.
  • We favour recent data and clearly state the date or period covered by statistics used in every article.

Research process and data handling

Typical steps we take when preparing data-led articles:

  • Define the question or comparison being made (for example: “cost of living comparison across UK cities”, or “public transport accessibility in city X”).
  • Identify and collect relevant datasets and documents from primary sources.
  • Check definitions and geography — confirm whether data are by local authority, built-up area, metropolitan district or another boundary and document which boundary we use.
  • Clean and normalise data where required (convert currencies, adjust for inflation, convert totals to per-capita or per-household rates). Methods used are described in the article or notes.
  • When combining datasets, we align time periods and definitions; we document any adjustments or assumptions made.
  • Perform analysis and produce tables, charts and written interpretation. All analytical choices that materially affect results are documented.

How we treat boundaries, comparability and definitions

City and local-area comparisons depend heavily on boundaries and definitions. We use official definitions where available (local authority boundaries, ONS built-up areas, MSOAs/LSOAs etc.) and state which definition we use in each piece. When we convert data between geographies (for example, aggregating wards to a city area), we explain the method and limitations.

Handling missing data, revisions and uncertainty

  • Missing or incomplete data are noted in the article. We do not infer or invent values without explaining the model or estimate used.
  • When official datasets are revised, we update our pages where the change affects findings. Revisions and the date of update are documented on the page where practical.
  • Where figures are estimates or modelled, we describe the assumptions, margin of error or uncertainty and avoid overstating precision.

Fact checking and verification

  • Key facts and figures are checked against at least one independent source where possible (triangulation).
  • We verify quoted statistics against the original published table or dataset and retain links to those sources.
  • Editorial reviewers check numerical results, labels on charts and any claims that could affect a reader’s decision (for example relocation or housing choices).

Use of models and estimates

Some articles require modelling or estimation (for example projecting trends, interpolating missing months, or producing composite indexes). In those cases we publish a short methodology note within the article or link to a detailed methodology page that explains the model, assumptions and limitations so readers can assess suitability for their needs.

AI assistance

We use automated tools and AI assistance in limited ways: drafting summaries, extracting data from documents, preparing first-draft text or running repetitive checks. Any content generated or assisted by AI is reviewed, verified and edited by a human member of the editorial team before publication. We do not rely on AI as the sole source for factual claims or data interpretation.

Human editorial review and updates

  • All content is subject to human editorial review before publication. The Editorial Team approves final copy and data presentations.
  • Pages are reviewed periodically and when new official datasets are released, or when users report errors or provide new information.
  • If a substantial change is made to an article’s data or conclusions, we try to include a note indicating what changed and why.

Corrections and reporting errors

If you believe a factual error appears on CityAffairs.co.uk, please contact us with details and sources so we can investigate. Email: admin@cityaffairs.co.uk. We review reported issues and, where appropriate, correct the content and note the correction in the article.

Independence, advertising and sponsored content

  • Editorial content is produced independently from commercial teams. Any sponsored or paid-for content is clearly labelled and follows the same editorial standards for factual accuracy.
  • We disclose affiliate links, commercial partnerships and data provided under licence in the relevant article or footer note.

Authors, bylines and external contributors

We publish articles under the CityAffairs.co.uk Editorial Team or individual contributor bylines. Contributor bios explain the contributor’s role or organisational affiliation if relevant. External experts or guest contributors are identified and any conflicts of interest are disclosed.

How to cite our work

To cite data or analysis from CityAffairs.co.uk, please include the article title, CityAffairs.co.uk, the URL and the date you accessed the page. For data reuse requests or bulk data queries, please contact us via admin@cityaffairs.co.uk.

Privacy and data protection

When we collect or publish personal data (for example in case studies or quoted interviews), we follow applicable data protection rules and aim to minimise personal information. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details.

Further questions

If you have questions about our methodology, want additional detail about a specific article, or would like to suggest sources we should consider, contact the Editorial Team at admin@cityaffairs.co.uk.