Series details: CRDA/69

English Partnerships played an active role in working closely with major public and private sector partners to deliver the Government's wider regeneration objectives, as outlined in the Sustainable Communities Plan. The Plan was launched in 2003 and became a key policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in guiding its regeneration and departmental objectives (for example, aiming to deliver sustainable communities in urban and rural areas, tackling housing supply issues, and addressing the quality of public spaces in England). Internet-based property resources such as English Sites therefore played a vital role in disseminating key information in support of regeneration efforts across the English regions. Note that English Partnerships, as a government agency, was also committed to the objectives outlined in the Modernising Government white paper (March 1999); and so the English Sites database was recognised as an important development in that it became a mechanism for delivering services electronically. 1

The English Sites website (www.englishsites.com) was specifically used as a single up-to-date portal or information service for companies who wished to easily navigate and locate relevant information about the best new locations in England which were offering potential expansion and investment opportunities. The dataset also sought to provide landowners with a new way of marketing their sites nationally or internationally.2 Through this database, thousands of registered users were able to access key information on strategic land sites throughout the English regions.

The English Sites database was managed and updated on a regular basis by English Partnerships, the UK Government's regeneration and development agency. In addition to working with partners on major initiatives such as internet-based property resources like 'www.englishsites.com', English Partnerships was allocated responsibility for four key areas of activity: Sustainable Regeneration, Housing, Strategic Brownfield Redevelopment and Best Practice.

For further information on English Partnerships, see the Administrative History for Transport Departments.

The English Sites database (previously known as the Strategic Sites Database) was first launched in February 1998. At the time, it was created to fill a gap in the property/development/relocation market and was intended to be the first single source of information for prospective developers/occupiers/intermediaries, detailing large development sites available in England.3 The dataset was therefore designed as an English Partnerships' internet property database, with the core aim of attracting inward investment in support of the Government's wider regeneration objectives for the English regions. It recorded details of land, locations, property and facilities available within England. Through this database, thousands of registered users were able to access key information on more than 200 strategic land sites across the English regions. 4

For further information about the scope and content of the dataset, see Links to dataset catalogues.

A one-off and final transfer of the English Sites database, selected for permanent preservation under Section 2.2.2 of The National Archives' acquisition policy. While images (namely, aerial photographs) were originally embedded within this dataset, they were not included as part of the transfer to NDAD. The images were originally supplied to English Partnerships by the agents marketing the individual sites. As a consequence English Partnerships do not own the images and the photographs were deleted once the website was closed down. 5

No further accruals of the data are expected.

This series of datasets and related dataset documentation are public records under the Public Records Acts, 1958 and 1967. The National Archives has assigned the dataset and documentation the series reference FJ 7.

The English Sites dataset and its related documentation are open to the public. The dataset and documentation are available on demand to users of NDAD, and do not require to be booked in advance.

Copyright for the English Sites dataset and its related dataset documentation is held by English Partnerships. Clearance must be sought directly from the Departmental Records Officer at English Partnerships.

The English Sites dataset is not subject to registration under the Data Protection Acts.

The language of the materials is English.

Documents relating to the English Sites dataset have been transferred to NDAD. See the Dataset Documentation Catalogue, reference CRDA/69/DD, for further details.

The English Partnerships website, 'Projects and Sites' section, provides an overview of the portfolio of strategic sites comprising approximately 6,000 hectares of land. The sites are the foundation for activity in site remediation and as part of the development of new and sustainable communities in England. Users may view information about the status of key projects and sites by clicking on the A to Z list or the interactive map.

The English Sites dataset for 2000 - 2005 was processed using an IBM PC.

The English Sites dataset for 2000 - 2005 operated on a IBM PC within a Windows NT-based operating system (Version 4).

The English Sites dataset for 2000 - 2005 was edited and processed using the following software: Microsoft SQL Server (Version 7); Microsoft ASP (Version 4.02.0788) and Microsoft IIS (Version 4).

On-screen web forms with data keyed in by Departmental staff operating a PC and web browser. Note that the web front-end of the live database allowed public users to search for any strategic site in the database using a number of criteria. 6 There were also a selection of 'Star Sites' specially selected based upon a variety of factors. Regional data was also maintained for all regions in England. More detailed information was available from the website for those who chose to register as an online user.

The English Sites dataset operated as an interactive database with a web front-end (www.englishsites.com). The original dataset as transferred to NDAD comprised a Microsoft SQL Server (14 tables); 13 of these tables were also transferred to NDAD in comma separated variable format. For further information about the table structure, see Links to dataset catalogues.

Details of the original data capture and validation process used for the English Sites dataset are recorded in the individual dataset catalogue: see Links to dataset catalogues.

Details of the content and transformation validation checks performed by NDAD on the English Sites dataset is recorded in the individual dataset catalogue: see Links to dataset catalogues.

Dataset catalogues provide more detailed information about individual datasets, and are currently available for the following dataset(s):

1. Dataset Documentation Catalogue, reference CRDA/69/DD/1/1, Photocopies of extracts from unregistered file titled 'English Sites Miscellaneous - Additional facts regarding EnglishSites.com', p.68.

2. Dataset Documentation Catalogue, reference CRDA/69/DD/4/1

3. Dataset Documentation Catalogue, reference CRDA/69/DD/1/1, Photocopies of extracts from unregistered file titled 'English Sites Miscellaneous - Additional facts regarding EnglishSites.com', p.69.

4. English Partnerships, Outlook magazine, Spring 2002, p.4

5. Note of communication from English Partnerships to NDAD on 8 December 2006.

6. Dataset Documentation Catalogue, reference CRDA/69/DD/1/1, Photocopies of extracts from unregistered file titled 'English Sites Miscellaneous - Additional facts regarding EnglishSites.com', p.69.