The Leicester Urban Area or Leicester Built Up Area (2011 onwards) is an urban agglomeration defined by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), centred on the City of Leicester in the East Midlands, England. With a population of 559,017 at the time of the 2021 census,[1] increased from 508,916 at the time of the 2011 census, the Built Up Area is the eleventh largest in England and thirteenth largest in the United Kingdom. It comprises Leicester itself and its suburbs, all of which are contiguous with or situated in close proximity to the city.

As at 2011 the Leicester Urban Area was home to 51.8% of the total population of Leicestershire[2] (2001: 48.5%). A 2017 quote from the Leicester City Council website states that "The Greater Leicester urban area is one of the fastest growing in the country, with a population of about 650,000, of which 350,000 live within the city council area"[3].

Analysis: 2011

Leicester built-up area in 2011. Directly contiguous outer suburbs now merged into Leicester. Syston now a subdivision; Ratby removed completely; new south western areas included.
  Leicester subdivision
  Other subdivisions
  City of Leicester unitary authority boundary

Leicester Built-up Area
2011 Census[4]

Urban subdivision Population
Leicester ONS

City &
inner suburbs
in detail
 
City
329,283
Leicester UNITARY 329,839
*less Ashton Green 556
 
Inner suburbs
114,477
Wigston 32,321
Oadby 23,849
Braunstone Town 16,850
Thurmaston 9,668
Glenfield 9,109
Leicester Forest East 6,719
Glen Parva 6,189
Kirby Muxloe 4,667
Thurnby and Bushby 3,301
Scraptoft 1,804
City &
inner suburbs

443,760

Narborough / Enderby 12,996 Outer suburbs

65,156

Syston 12,804
Blaby / Whetstone 12,760
Birstall 12,216
Groby 6,782
Cosby 3,506
Queniborough 2,326
Littlethorpe 1,766
Total 508,916
Change % from 2001 Increase 15.3%

Analysis: 2001

Leicester urban area in 2001. Northern Beaumont Leys included.
  Leicester subdivision
  Other subdivisions

Leicester Urban Area
2001 Census[5]

Urban subdivision Population
Leicester ONS

City &
inner suburbs
in detail
 
City
273,758
Leicester UNITARY 279,921
*less Beaumont Leys
(see below)
5,579
*less Ashton Green 584
 
Inner suburbs
56,816
Braunstone Town 14,981
Syston 11,608
Thurmaston 8,945
Glenfield 9,193
Glen Parva 5,902
Thurnby and Bushby 3,147
Scraptoft 1,521
Leicester Forest East 1,519
City &
inner suburbs

330,574

Wigston 33,116 Outer suburbs

110,639

Oadby 22,679
Blaby / Whetstone 12,263
Birstall 11,480
Kirby Muxloe 9,500
Groby 6,256
Beaumont Leys 5,579
Ratby 3,862
Cosby 3,647
Queniborough 2,257
Total 441,213
Change % from 1991 Increase 5.8%

Analysis: 1991

Leicester urban area in 1991, with newly added southern subdivisions.
  Leicester subdivision
  Other subdivisions

Leicester Urban Area
1991 Census[6]

Urban subdivision Population
Leicester ONS

City &
inner suburbs
in detail
 
City
270,493
Leicester UNITARY
 
Inner suburbs
48,025
Braunstone Town
Glen Parva
Glenfield
Leicester Forest East
Scraptoft
Syston
Thurmaston
Thurnby and Bushby
City &
inner suburbs

318,518

Wigston 32,864 Outer suburbs

98,083

Oadby 18,538
Birstall 11,770
Kirby Muxloe 7,780
Groby 7,183
Blaby 6,538
Whetstone 4,032
Ratby 3,601
Cosby 3,390
Queniborough 2,387
Total 416,601
Change % from 1981 Increase 3%

Analysis: 1981

Leicester urban area in 1981, showing shaded 'outer suburbs' subdivisions. The small text lists 'inner suburbs' within the Leicester ONS subdivision, but outside the unitary authority (city council) area.
  Leicester subdivision
  Other subdivisions

Leicester Urban Area
1981 Census[7]

Urban subdivision Population
Leicester ONS

City &
inner suburbs
in detail
 
City
276,245
Leicester UNITARY
 
Inner suburbs
48,149
Braunstone Town
Glen Parva
Glenfield
Leicester Forest East
Scraptoft
Syston
Thurmaston
Thurnby and Bushby
City &
inner suburbs

324,394

Wigston 32,373 Outer suburbs

80,008

Oadby 18,331
Birstall 12,519
Kirby Muxloe 6,896
Groby 4,689
Ratby 3,095
Queniborough 2,105
Total 404,402



Analysis: Notes

The Leicester ONS sub-totals are explained with reference to the following:

  • For 2011, there have been certain reclassifications from 'outer' to 'inner suburbs' thus contributing to the increase in population of Leicester ONS compared to 2001 and prior.
  • The ONS's definition of "Leicester" in the 2001 census excluded the northern area of the Beaumont Leys ward, which was counted separately, and amalgamated several surrounding towns and villages. Its boundaries and population were not the same as that of the Leicester UNITARY, which had a separate population of 279,921 at the 2001 Census and includes Beaumont Leys. See the 2001 Leicester ONS analysis.
  • Ongoing refinements in methodology between the two census dates meant that contiguous suburbs, external to the city boundaries and which were subdivided up to 2001, were merged into the 2011 Leicester ONS figure. These, along with infilling at the margins, also accounted for the removal of Ratby and the addition of new subdivisions.
  • Leicester ONS figures do not include the Ashton Green/Glebelands/Thurcaston Park development (containing 556 residents in 2011). Although within the city boundaries, this incipient addition is in effect a satellite village given that there is 'green separation'. This categorisation is likely to change as future residential expansion planned around the development,[8] converges towards Beaumont Leys and Birstall; both part of the urban area/BUA.

The Kirby Muxloe figures up to 2001 includes the portion of Leicester Forest East which is to the west of the M1 motorway. The eastern section is part of the Leicester ONS subdivision, and is listed separately in the 2001 table.

Although Stoughton is shown as a small leg of the urban area, its figures are not counted.

52°38′N 1°08′W / 52.63°N 1.13°W / 52.63; -1.13

See also

References

  1. "UNITED KINGDOM: Urban Areas in England". City Population. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. Combined city and county
  3. 'Exhibitions give information about Local Plan' (Published on 11 September 2017)
  4. "KS101EW (Usual resident population) - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  5. "United Kingdom: Urban Areas 2001". ONS. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  6. "United Kingdom: Urban Areas 1991". ONS. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  7. 1981 Key Statistics for Urban Areas: The Midlands Table 1, Office for National Statistics, 1981.
  8. "Ashton Green development project". www.leicester.gov.uk.
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