East Lothian, Musselburgh
EH21 6AF in Musselburgh has a Lower flood risk. Heat risk is Lower, with a median (50th percentile) of 4 days above 25°C per year, averaged over the 2021-2040 period under the RCP8.5 high emissions scenario (Met Office UKCP18). Air quality is Low at PM2.5 4.5 μg/m³, within the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR). Ground conditions are Low risk, with Quaternary Marine/Estuarine Sand geology; shrink-swell risk is classed as improbable (BGS GeoSure).
National comparison
Flood risk at EH21 6AF is rated Lower, based on SEPA flood mapping.
Air quality at EH21 6AF is rated Low, based on Defra UK-AIR annual mean PM2.5 data. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) comes primarily from road traffic, industry, and domestic burning. Long-term exposure above the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health risks. Buyers and renters in higher air quality risk areas may wish to consider whether the property is near busy roads or industrial sources.
BGS GeoSure data classes the underlying soil at EH21 6AF as Quaternary Marine/Estuarine Sand, with shrink-swell hazard rated improbable (subsidence risk band: Low). Soil type and shrink-swell behaviour drive subsidence claims following dry summers; recent ABI data shows insurer payouts rose sharply after the 2022 and 2025 hot summers. A structural survey is the reliable way to assess ground risk for a specific property.
The nearest projected coastal erosion zone to EH21 6AF is 126 m away (NatureScot Dynamic Coast - eroded area by 2100 (high emissions) mapping) and the postcode is in the high coastal erosion risk band. Coastal erosion risk varies along the shoreline depending on local geology, sea defences and Shoreline Management Plan policy. For properties near the coast, a specialist coastal erosion risk assessment is recommended.
This LocalRisk report for EH21 6AF draws on four official UK open data sources: SEPA flood mapping, Met Office UKCP18 climate projections, Defra UK-AIR PM2.5 monitoring, and British Geological Survey GeoSure subsidence mapping. Risk ratings are a screening tool, complementing - not replacing - the searches and surveys ordered as part of a property transaction. Data covers East Lothian and is updated as new official datasets are published.
East Lothian has a coastal and agricultural setting with lowland plains and rising ground inland and experiences cool, wet winters and mild summers, shaped by North Sea influence and open landscapes.
SEPA flood zone data shows lower flood risk for EH21 6AF in Musselburgh. The band reflects the highest flood risk within the postcode; some properties within this postcode may face little or no direct flood risk. For a specific property, a conveyancing search will confirm the exact flood zone position.
Practical check: The nearest projected erosion zone is 126m away - check the Shoreline Management Plan policy for this stretch and whether the property is within 100 years of the erosion line. These are postcode-level indicators - conditions vary between individual properties.