LOCATION

M26 2RW - Flood, Heat, Air & Subsidence Risk - Radcliffe

Bury, Radcliffe

Flood: HighHeat: LowerAir quality: MediumGround: Low

M26 2RW in Radcliffe has a High flood risk - EA NaFRA2 data records 21 properties at high flood risk. Heat risk is Lower, with a median (50th percentile) of 14 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 Medium at PM2.5 7.1 μg/m³, above the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR). Ground conditions are Low risk, with Riverine Clay And Floodplain Sands And Gravel geology; shrink-swell risk is classed as improbable (BGS GeoSure).

National comparison

  • Air pollution: more polluted than 64% of councils
  • Heat risk: cooler than 72% of councils
  • Subsidence risk: lower risk than 58% of postcodes
  • Green space access: better green access than 88% of English postcodes

Flood risk at M26 2RW is rated High, based on Environment Agency NaFRA2 modelling.

Air quality at M26 2RW is rated Medium, 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 M26 2RW as Riverine Clay And Floodplain Sands And Gravel, 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 M26 2RW draws on four official UK open data sources: Environment Agency NaFRA2 flood modelling, 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 Bury and is updated as new official datasets are published.

Bury has an inland urban setting with river valleys and rising ground toward the Pennines and experiences cool, wet winters and warm summers, shaped by elevation and built form.

Environment Agency flood zone data places M26 2RW in the high flood risk band. EA NaFRA2 data shows 21 at high risk in this postcode. The band reflects the highest flood risk within the postcode; some properties within this postcode may face little or no direct flood risk. A formal flood risk search and review of buildings insurance availability is recommended before any property transaction in this area.

Practical check: With 21 properties at high flood risk here, ask about past flooding events, check the entrance threshold height relative to road level, and review buildings insurance terms. With PM2.5 above WHO guidelines here, check which bedrooms face busy roads and how fresh air is drawn into living spaces. These are postcode-level indicators - conditions vary between individual properties.