NP18 1GA - Flood, Heat, Air & Subsidence Risk - Pontypool

Torfaen, Pontypool

NP18 1GA in Pontypool has a Very low flood risk. Heat risk is Lower, with a median (50th percentile) of 22 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 5.6 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).

• Flood: Flood risk is minimal in this area.
• Heat: Projected 22 days above 25°C per year, 2021-2040 average (Met Office UKCP18, 50th percentile under RCP8.5).
• Air quality: PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³ - above the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR).
• Ground: BGS data: Riverine Clay And Floodplain Sands And Gravel geology. Shrink-swell risk classed as improbable (British Geological Survey).

Flood risk at NP18 1GA is rated Very Low, based on Natural Resources Wales flood mapping.

Air quality at NP18 1GA 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 NP18 1GA 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 NP18 1GA draws on four official UK open data sources: Natural Resources Wales 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 Torfaen and is updated as new official datasets are published.

Torfaen has a predominantly valley-based setting with former industrial land, rivers and surrounding uplands and experiences cool, wet winters and mild summers, influenced by South Wales topography and Atlantic rainfall.

Natural Resources Wales flood zone data shows very low flood risk for NP18 1GA in Pontypool. 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: With 22 hot days projected (UKCP18 50th percentile, 2021-2040 average under RCP8.5), note which bedrooms face west (hottest in evening) and whether windows allow through-ventilation. These are postcode-level indicators - conditions vary between individual properties.