Creating a synthetic spatial microdataset for zone design experiments using 2011 Census and linked administrative data

New forms of administrative and linked data with high attribute and spatial detail present increased risk of information disclosure about individuals, potentially enabling identification. Evaluation of disclosure risk using real data is not feasible, as disclosive record-level data are understandably not accessible for such research. This paper details development of a synthetic microdataset for England and Wales with a realistic distribution of household locations and individual characteristics. We here exploit the synthetic dataset for assessment of alternative automated zone design solutions, with the eventual aim of improving researcher access to maximally useful data while minimising disclosure risk.