PL1 1BQ - Flood, Heat, Air & Subsidence Risk - Millbay (PL1)

Plymouth, Millbay (PL1)

Climate risk summary for PL1 1BQ

Heat risk is Lower, with a median (50th percentile) of 13 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 5.5 μg/m³, above the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR). Ground conditions are Low risk, with Argillite-Slate geology; shrink-swell risk is classed as improbable (BGS GeoClimate).

• Flood: No flood-risk band is published for this postcode in the current dataset releases - a data-coverage gap rather than a rating. The national agencies' address-level flood services cover every property.
• Heat: Projected 13 days above 25°C per year, 2021-2040 average (Met Office UKCP18, 50th percentile under RCP8.5, 12 km grid - postcodes within the same grid cell share this value).
• Air quality: PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³ - above the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³ (Defra UK-AIR PCM model, council-level average - every postcode in this council shows this value).
• Ground: BGS data: Argillite-Slate geology. Shrink-swell risk classed as improbable (British Geological Survey).
• Green space: 100% of households here have accessible green space within a 15-minute walk (the government's Environmental Improvement Plan standard), and 4% have a park or green space within a 200m walk of their door - below the England median (Defra, 2025).

What is the flood risk in PL1 1BQ?

An official flood-risk band is not available for PL1 1BQ in the current dataset releases used by LocalRisk. This is a data-coverage gap rather than a low-risk rating. For a property-level reading, the Environment Agency's Check Your Long-Term Flood Risk service covers every address in England.

How is the air quality in PL1 1BQ?

Air quality at PL1 1BQ 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.

Is subsidence a risk at PL1 1BQ?

British Geological Survey data classes the underlying soil at PL1 1BQ as Argillite-Slate, with shrink-swell hazard rated improbable (subsidence risk band: Low). A structural survey is the reliable way to assess ground conditions for a specific property.

Where does this data come from?

This LocalRisk report for PL1 1BQ 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 GeoClimate subsidence mapping. Risk ratings are a screening tool, complementing - not replacing - the searches and surveys ordered as part of a property transaction. Data covers Plymouth and is updated as new official datasets are published.

About the Plymouth area

Plymouth has a coastal city setting with steep river valleys, estuaries and rising ground inland and experiences cool, wet winters and mild summers, shaped by maritime influence and complex topography.

Climate risk can change street by street, so it is worth checking neighbouring postcodes too. The full risk report for PL1 1AE is at localrisk.co.uk/postcode/PL11AE, and you can compare PL1 1BQ side by side with any UK postcode at localrisk.co.uk/compare.