Using GIS to Explore the Potential of Business Rating Data to Analyse Stock and Value Change for Land Administration: A Case Study of York

Abstract

This study explores the potential of GIS to map and analyse the distribution, stock and value of commercial and industrial property using rating data compiled for the purposes of charging business rates taxation on all non-residential property in the UK. Rating data from 2010, 2017 and 2019, comprising over 6000 property units in the City of York, were filtered and classified by retail, office and industrial use, before geocoding by post code. Nominal rateable values and floor areas for all premises were aggregated in 100 m diameter hexagonal grid and average rateable value calculated to reveal changes in the distribution and value of all employment floorspace in the City over the last decade. Temporospatial analysis revealed polarisation of York’s retail property market between the historic city centre and out-of-town locations. Segmenting traditional retail from food and drink premises revealed growth in the latter has mitigated the hollowing out of the city core. This study is significant in developing a replicable and efficient method of using GIS, using a nationally available rating dataset, to represent changes in the quantum, spatial distribution and relative value of employment floorspace over time to inform local and national land administration, spatial planning and economic development policy making.

Shifting prime retailing pitches. A GIS analysis of the spatial adaptations in city centre retail markets

“…The spread of food and drink outlets amongst retailing, similar to the change identified by Greenhalgh et al (2020) in York, suggests that centres are diversifying, but there is the potential for reduced shop localisation economies to increase the complexity of managing and improving urban retail centres. This is likely to compound the difficulties presented by the increased heterogeneity and fragmentation of ownership in city centres revealed by Orr et al (2022b), that similarly present challenges for management and overarching stewardship.…”

“…In previous studies, the tendency has been to study either the performance of retailing centres at the aggregate national or regional level, or the behaviour of individual components within the retailing landscape in isolation with only the occasional study, such as Crosby et al (2005) and Greenhalgh et al (2020) focused on a local retail market. However, the period of change within urban centres, and the policy-response to re-create urban centres into a more balanced mix of uses, requires recognition that the retail market is part of a complex system comprising a large number of individuals and organisations with different expectations and relationships (Wrigley & Dolega, 2011).…”

An open source delineation and hierarchical classification of UK retail agglomerations

“…The most extensive and openly accessible data varied by country. For England and Wales, the VOA non-domestic ratings registry has been used by previous studies to for identifying retail locations 11 – 13 . These data served as the primary source of retail location data; whereas in Scotland and Northern Ireland where VOA data are not available, these were replaced with OSM retail-specific point data 14 , 15 .…”

Applications of GIScience for Land Administration

“…Greenhalgh et al [25] take the step from land value to land market analysis. The show how GIS can be used to analyse the distribution, stock and value of commercial and industrial property and how to visualize the results.…”