Privacy notice
This site is provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in conjunction with the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Cabinet Office.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is the data controller for any personal information published on this site and any personal information collected via cookies.
The Cabinet Office is the data controller for personal information processed as part of providing the underlying platform such as IP addresses.
A data controller determines how and why personal data is processed. For more information, read the Cabinet Office’s entry in the Data Protection Public Register.
What data we collect and why we need it
GDS collects some data automatically when you visit this site. This includes your Internet Protocol (IP) address, and details of which version of web browser you use. GDS uses this information to provide you with access to the website and to monitor use of the site to identify security threats.
Where you provide your consent Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities uses Google Analytics to collect the following information about how you use this website:
- the pages you visit on GOV.UK.
- how long you spend on each GOV.UK page.
- how you got to the site.
- what you click on while you’re visiting the site.
- a rough indication of your location using your anonymised IP address.
No directly identifiable personal information is collected through Google Analytics (for example your name or address). Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will not identify you through analytics information, and will not combine analytics information with other data sets in a way that would identify who you are.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities uses this information to make sure the website is meeting the needs of its users and to make improvements.
See the Cookies page for more information about the cookies used on this website.
Legal basis for processing your data
GDS’s legal basis for processing personal data in relation to site security is their legitimate interests in ensuring the security and integrity of the platform.
GDS’s legal basis for processing all other personal data is that it’s necessary to perform a task in the public interest or in the exercise of our functions as a government department.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’s lawful basis for collecting your information with Google Analytics is your consent.
What we do with your data
GDS or Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities may share data with other government departments, agencies and public bodies where there is a legitimate and justifiable business need. Data may also be shared with technology suppliers, such as hosting providers, which act as data processors.
We will not:
- sell or rent your data to third parties.
- share your data with third parties for marketing purposes.
We will share your data if we are required to do so by law – for example, by court order, or to prevent fraud or other crime.
How long we keep your data
We will only retain your personal data for as long as it is needed for the purposes set out in this document or for as long as the law requires us to.
GDS will delete access log data after 120 days.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will delete Google Analytics data after 120 days.
Children’s privacy protection
This website is not designed for, or intentionally targeted at, children 13 years of age or younger. Neither GDS or Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities intentionally collect or maintain data about anyone under the age of 13.
Where your data is processed and stored
Data related to the underlying platform is processed and stored in the European Economic Area (EEA). Data collected by Google Analytics may be transferred outside the EEA for processing.
How we protect your data and keep it secure
We are committed to doing all that we can to keep your data secure. We have set up systems and processes to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure of your data – for example, we protect your data using varying levels of encryption.
We also make sure that any third parties that we deal with keep all personal data they process on our behalf secure.
Your rights
You have the right to request:
- information about how your personal data is processed.
- a copy of that personal data.
- that anything inaccurate in your personal data is corrected immediately.
You can also:
- raise an objection about how your personal data is processed.
- request that your personal data is erased if there is no longer a justification for it.
- ask that the processing of your personal data is restricted in certain circumstances.
If you have any of these requests, get in contact with gds-privacy-office@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk.
Contact us or make a complaint
Contact the GDS Privacy Team by email at gds-privacy-office@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk if you:
- have a question about anything in this privacy notice.
- think that your personal data has been misused or mishandled.
You can also contact the Cabinet Office and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’s Data Protection Officers (DPO):
Data Protection Officer
Email: DPO@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
The DPOs provide independent advice and monitoring of our use of personal information.
You can also make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator.
Information Commissioner
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Textphone: 01625 545860
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Changes to this policy
This policy may be changed from time to time. In that case, the ‘last updated’ date at the bottom of this page will also change. Any changes to this privacy policy will apply to you and your data immediately.
If these changes affect how your personal data is processed, GDS and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will take reasonable steps to let you know.
Last updated 14 March 2024.