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Research and analysis

Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding

This report uses up-to-date data to provide in-depth evidence on flood risk exposure and social deprivation inequalities in England.

Updates to this page

From:
Environment Agency
Published:
19 November 2020
Last updated:
3 May 2022
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  1. This is the April 2022 (version 2.1), of the report Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding. The January 2021 (version 2.0) of the report was published to correct the definition of Outcome Measure OM2c used in the first, November 2020, version of the report. Outcome Measure OM2c measures households in the 20% most deprived areas that are moved from the very significant or significant risk bands to the moderate or low risks bands, as a result of a flood capital scheme. (The previous November 2020 version of the report had incorrectly stated that OM2c measured all households in the 20% most deprived areas that moved to any lower risk band.) The correction only relates to text in Sections 1.1 and 4.2. It does not impact upon the analysis and discussion in any other sections of the report. This report (version 2.1) now includes a data update in Section 1. The report now provides Outcome Measure data for the finalised Flood and Costal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) capital programme for the 2015/16 to 2020/21 Investment Programme. This is an internal EA dataset. The report presents another indicator, Outcome Measure OM2b, which is the number of houses that are moved from the very significant or significant risk bands to the moderate or low risks bands. This is a better comparison for OM2c as it (OM2b) has the same risk protection classification as OM2c. It’s inclusion in Section 1.1 thus provides a more statistically robust comparison of flood investment in deprived and all areas of England.

  2. An updated January 2021 (version 2.0) of the report Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding has been published. This corrects the definition of Outcome Measure OM2c used in the original version of the report. The correction only relates to text in Sections 1.1 and 4.2. It does not impact upon the analysis and discussion in any other sections of the report.

  3. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding: report

Ref: ISBN 978-1-84911-472-1

PDF, 478 KB, 30 pages

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Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding: summary

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This report uses up-to-date data to provide in-depth evidence on flood risk exposure and social deprivation inequalities in England.

The Environment Agency will use the findings to update its evidence base on the social distribution of flood risk and associated decision-making rules for investment.

This research was updated in June 2026: Flood risk and social deprivation - GOV.UK

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