The Distances of Residential Moves (DoRM) Index dataset provide yearly estimates of the median straight-line distances of all known residential moves to, from, and within each Local Authority District (LAD) in the UK from 1997 onwards. The index data are compiled from CDRC Secure data Linked Consumer Registers, which contain annual updates of the names and addresses for adults in the UK from 1997 onwards. These data are used to provide yearly Local Authority District (LAD) estimates of the median straight-line distances of all known residential moves to, from and within each LAD in the UK.

The data provide an estimate of median straight-line distance of residential moves between and within each UK LAD in each year between 1998 and 2023. All known adult residential moves are characterised as moving out of, moving into or moving within any UK LAD. Some LAD boundaries changed during the 1997-2023 period and so boundaries of 2021 LAD boundaries were used to harmonise results.

These data allow researchers to explore locality scale changes in residential mobility and migration patterns over an extended time period. The annual estimates and attribution of origins and destinations to specific LADs extends what is available from decennial census data. Median annual LAD residential move data are provided for adult individuals moving out of, moving into, or moving within each UK LAD. Estimates are triangulated with census estimates and can be used to update them during intercensal periods.

Note: The unit of DORM is in kilometres, and '*' means the figures were suppressed to avoid disclosing issues (i.e., lower count).

Quality

The underpinning data are the CDRC Linked Consumer Registers (LCRs), the provenance of which is set out in two papers in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (Lansley et al 2019; van Dijk et al 2021). Consumer and administrative data were acquired directly or indirectly from multiple data providers without warranties about accuracy or coverage, consistent with industry practice. Extensive internal and external validation procedures were developed in order to render the diverse data formats consistent and to establish the provenance of the consolidated registers. Known shortcomings in the data and over-all assessment of quality are set out in the peer-reviewed research papers.

In addition to establishing consistency of address referencing, the research papers document the completeness of the data. In terms of coverage, the LCRs tend to under-estimate LSOA adult population sizes relative to UK mid-year population estimates for 2003-2020. The research papers describe procedures developed by the CDRC to fill in known gaps where possible.

Data for Northern Ireland are estimated to be less complete because of specific administrative procedures and legislative requirements. Additional UK-wide issues are created by second-home owners and students.

Representation and Bias

Whilst collaborating value added data resellers have attempted to compile address lists that have full and accurate coverage, the research papers identify systematic biases akin to those found in similar data sources. The primary data source over the period is the public version of UK Electoral Registers, the coverage of which has been in decline since the advent of opt out provisions in 2002. Post 2002 LCRs are understood to under-represent adults drawn from ethnic minorities and those resident in rented accommodation.

CDRC research using a names-based tool to infer ethnicity, developed in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has quantified the slight over-representation of White British adults. Approximately 84% of LCR individuals were classed as White British, compared to 81% self-identifying as such in the 2011 UK Census. Research also identified that areas with higher proportion of adults in rented accommodation had the greatest under-representation within cities.

The counts of individuals in the original LCR data fluctuate according to data supplier in addition to actual population size changes.