Super output areas (SOAs) were designed to improve the reporting of small area statistics. SOAs are made up of smaller output areas which are the lowest geographical level at which census estimates are provided. 

The base building blocks for the super output areas are the smallest geography of the 2001 Census. There are 660 output areas within Warrington each with an average population of 125 households or 300 people.

Lower layer super output areas: 

• There are 127 lower layer SOAs within the borough of Warrington.
• The lower layer was created by automatically aggregating 2001 Census output areas and has a minimum population size of 1,000 persons (1,500 average).
• Each lower layer SOA has a code ranging from E01012446 to E01012570 and a nationally allocated name ranging from Warrington 001A to Warrington 025D (dependent upon name of host middle layer SOA).
• This layer fits both within current electoral ward boundaries as well as within the middle layer SOAs.       

Middle layer super output areas:

• There are 25 middle layer SOAs within the borough of Warrington.
• The middle layer comprises groupings of lower layer areas and has a minimum population size of 5,000 persons (7,500 average).
• Each middle layer SOA has a code ranging from E02002590 to E02002614 and a nationally allocated name ranging from Warrington 001 to Warrington 025.
• This layer does not match current electoral ward boundaries and fits within the upper layer of SOAs.         

The lookup files available in related downloads match super output areas to output areas and electoral wards.

Hard copy maps of Warrington’s SOA boundaries can be obtained on request subject to Ordnance Survey copyright.

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