LOCATION

PL6 8RP - Flood, Heat, Air & Subsidence Risk - Derriford

Plymouth, Derriford

Flood: HighHeat: LowerAir quality: LowGround: Low

PL6 8RP in Derriford has a High flood risk - EA NaFRA2 data records 7 properties at high flood risk. 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 GeoSure).

National comparison

  • Air pollution: cleaner than 70% of councils
  • Heat risk: cooler than 75% of councils
  • Subsidence risk: lower risk than 58% of postcodes
  • Green space access: better green access than 87% of English postcodes

Flood risk at PL6 8RP is rated High, based on Environment Agency NaFRA2 modelling.

Air quality at PL6 8RP 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 PL6 8RP as Argillite-Slate, 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 PL6 8RP 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 Plymouth and is updated as new official datasets are published.

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.

Environment Agency flood zone data places PL6 8RP in the high flood risk band. EA NaFRA2 data shows 7 at high risk, 9 at medium risk, 19 at low 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 7 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. These are postcode-level indicators - conditions vary between individual properties.