City of Edinburgh, New Town
EH2 1AW in New Town has a Medium flood risk. Heat risk is Lower, with a median (50th percentile) of 5 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 4.9 μg/m³, within the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR). Ground conditions are Low risk, with Glacial Till geology; shrink-swell risk is classed as improbable (BGS GeoSure).
Flood risk at EH2 1AW is rated Medium, based on SEPA flood mapping.
SEPA flood zone data places EH2 1AW in the medium flood risk band. The band reflects the highest flood risk within the postcode; some properties within this postcode may face little or no direct flood risk. Individual properties within EH2 1AW can differ - a formal flood risk search is recommended before any property transaction.
Air quality at EH2 1AW 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 EH2 1AW as Glacial Till, 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.
This LocalRisk report for EH2 1AW 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 City of Edinburgh and is updated as new official datasets are published.
The City of Edinburgh has a coastal urban setting with hills, valleys and historic drainage patterns and experiences cool, wet winters and mild summers, influenced by the North Sea and varied topography.
Climate risk can change street by street, so it is worth checking neighbouring postcodes too. The full risk report for EH2 1AF is at localrisk.co.uk/postcode/EH21AF, and you can compare EH2 1AW side by side with any UK postcode at localrisk.co.uk/compare.