UK Postcode-level Flood Risk Data (Rivers and Sea)

Identifying Risk Areas for Flood Protection and Planning

By IBM Watson AI XPRIZE - Environment [source]

About this dataset

Welcome to the UK Postcode-level Flood Risk Dataset. This open source dataset contains detailed information on flood risk levels by postcode in the UK, allowing you to map out potential problems and plan accordingly. With this dataset, you can assess each postcode's growing risk of floods due to human land use change and climate change-related weather patterns, as well as historical occurrences specific to each area.

We pull data from organizations including Risk of Flooding from Rivers & Sea, Open Postcode Geo, Royal Mail copyright & database right (2017), National Statistics data Crown copyright & database right (2017), and Environment Agency data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The associated columns in this dataset are detailed below:

• Postcode - unique identifier for the postal code district where flood risk area is located
• FID - Unique ID for each location point
• PROB 4BAND - Flood risk level for a given postcode determined according to a four tier grade system (High, Medium, Low or Very Low)
• SUITABILITY - Suitability of location based on environment factors assessed according to OFRA criteria
• PUB_DATE - Date when data was published or last updated
• RISK FOR INSURANCE SOP - Standard Operating Procedure assigned according the Probability 4 band Risk rating
• Easting/Northing/Latitude/Longitude – Coordinates associated with a given postcode location

This data can be used by local authorities and agencies conducting flood mapping projects; insurers assessing assets at specified locations using an agreed set of methodology; advisors assessing locations for development purposes; forecasters aiding contingency planning; homeowners/commercial businesses seeking insurance cover for claims arising from flooding events etc. Ultimately we hope citizens around the world use this dataset as an important tool to predict areas exposedto potential flooding risks so that preventive measures may be taken beforehand!

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How to use the dataset

This Kaggle dataset provides postcode-level flood risk data for the UK, including the flood risk level, coordinates, and other related information. This dataset is derived from Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea (provided by the British government) and Open Postcode Geo. It is licensed under the OGL 3.0 open government license.

In this data set you will find columns for each postcode as well as unique identifiers for a particular region (FID), an overall four band flood risk level (PROB_4BAND), whether a specific location or building is suitable or not (SUITABILITY), when it was published so you can be sure you are getting reliable up to date information (PUB_DATE), Easting/Northing which roughly measure distance eastwards/northwards of locations in meters(EASTING / NORTHING), LATITUDE & LONGITUDE that point to a precise location on google map & finally RISK_FOR_INSURANCE SOP which clearly distinguishes between sites which should generate warnings with regard to various kinds of insurance policies. This allows companies applying digital transformation solutions like hazard mapping solutions to show what risks certain locations present in relation to possible flood damage using digital technologies such as GIS systems or location intelligence tools etc., allowing organizations apply data science models or techniques like predictive analytics that may be used in decision making processes such as those taken by municipalities when signing off disaster management plans etc..

You can use this dataset for research purposes, share your findings on websites through charts & graphs to develop an educational understanding about possible hazards associated with areas that people inhabit around UK particularly at times when storm systems are localized heavily over specific regions making it most likely due causing major catastrophic event across British Isles . People living there can always access their respective postcodes very easily via our Flood Map by Postcode page here Flood Map.

When writing reports acknowledging source material properly , kindly take into account our acknowledgements including; Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2017, Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and Database right 2017 , Contains National Statistics ...

Office for National Statistics’ national and subnational mid-year population estimates for England and Wales for a selection of administrative and census areas by additional useful age for 2012 to 2020. Age categories include: 0-15, 5-11, 11-15, 16-17, 16-29, 16-64, 18-24, 30-44, 45-64, 65+ & 70+. The data is source is from ONS Population Estimates. Find out more about this dataset here.

This data is issued at (BGC) Generalised (20m) boundary type for:

Country, Region, Upper Tier Local Authority (2021), Lower Tier Local Authority (2021), Middle Super Output Area (2011), and Lower Super Output Area (2011).

If you require the data at full resolution boundaries, or if you are interested in the range of statistical data that Esri UK make available in ArcGIS Online please enquire at dataenquiries@esriuk.com.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces annual estimates of the resident population of England and Wales at 30 June every year. The most authoritative population estimates come from the census, which takes place every 10 years in the UK. Population estimates from a census are updated each year to produce mid-year population estimates (MYEs), which are broken down by local authority, sex and age. More detailed information on the methods used to generate the mid-year population estimates can be found here.

For further information on the usefulness of the data and guidance on small area geographies please see here.The currency of this data is 2021.

Methodology

The total and 5-year breakdown population counts are reproduced directly from the source data. The age range estimates have been calculated from the published estimates by single year of age. The percentages are calculated using the gender specific (total, female or male) total population count as a denominator except in the case of the male and female total population where the total population is used to give female and male proportions.

This dataset will be updated annually, in two releases.

Creator: Office for National Statistics. Aggregated age groupings and percentages calculated by Esri UK._The data services available from this page are derived from the National Data Service. The NDS delivers thousands of open national statistical indicators for the UK as data-as-a-service. Data are sourced from major providers such as the Office for National Statistics, Public Health England and Police UK and made available for your area at standard geographies such as counties, districts and wards and census output areas. This premium service can be consumed as online web services or on-premise for use throughout the ArcGIS system.Read more about the NDS.

Office for National Statistics’ national and subnational total mid-year population estimates for England and Wales for a selection of administrative and census areas by sex for 2012 to 2020. The data is source is from ONS Population Estimates. Find out more about this dataset here.

This data is issued at (BGC) Generalised (20m) boundary type for:

Country, Region, Upper Tier Local Authority (2021), Lower Tier Local Authority (2021), Middle Super Output Area (2011), and Lower Super Output Area (2011).

If you require the data at full resolution boundaries, or if you are interested in the range of statistical data that Esri UK make available in ArcGIS Online please enquire at dataenquiries@esriuk.com.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces annual estimates of the resident population of England and Wales at 30 June every year. The most authoritative population estimates come from the census, which takes place every 10 years in the UK. Population estimates from a census are updated each year to produce mid-year population estimates (MYEs), which are broken down by local authority, sex and age. More detailed information on the methods used to generate the mid-year population estimates can be found here.

For further information on the usefulness of the data and guidance on small area geographies please see here.The currency of this data is 2021.

Methodology

The total and 5-year breakdown population counts are reproduced directly from the source data. The age range estimates have been calculated from the published estimates by single year of age. The percentages are calculated using the gender specific (total, female or male) total population count as a denominator except in the case of the male and female total population where the total population is used to give female and male proportions.

This dataset will be updated annually, in two releases.

Creator: Office for National Statistics. Aggregated age groupings and percentages calculated by Esri UK._The data services available from this page are derived from the National Data Service. The NDS delivers thousands of open national statistical indicators for the UK as data-as-a-service. Data are sourced from major providers such as the Office for National Statistics, Public Health England and Police UK and made available for your area at standard geographies such as counties, districts and wards and census output areas. This premium service can be consumed as online web services or on-premise for use throughout the ArcGIS system.Read more about the NDS.

Office for National Statistics’ national and subnational mid-year population estimates for England and Wales for a selection of administrative and census areas by age (in 5 year age brackets) for 2012 to 2020. The data is source is from ONS Population Estimates. Find out more about this dataset here.This data is issued at (BGC) Generalised (20m) boundary type for:Country,Region,Upper Tier Local Authority (2021),Lower Tier Local Authority (2021),Middle Super Output Area (2011), andLower Super Output Area (2011).If you require the data at full resolution boundaries, or if you are interested in the range of statistical data that Esri UK make available in ArcGIS Online please enquire at content@esriuk.com.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces annual estimates of the resident population of England and Wales at 30 June every year. The most authoritative population estimates come from the census, which takes place every 10 years in the UK. Population estimates from a census are updated each year to produce mid-year population estimates (MYEs), which are broken down by local authority, sex and age. More detailed information on the methods used to generate the mid-year population estimates can be found here.For further information on the usefulness of the data and guidance on small area geographies please see here.The currency of this data is 2021.MethodologyThe total and 5-year breakdown population counts are reproduced directly from the source data. The age range estimates have been calculated from the published estimates by single year of age. The percentages are calculated using the gender specific (total, female or male) total population count as a denominator except in the case of the male and female total population where the total population is used to give female and male proportions.This dataset will be updated annually, in two releases.Creator: Office for National Statistics. Aggregated age groupings and percentages calculated by Esri UK._The data services available from this page are derived from the National Data Service. The NDS delivers thousands of open national statistical indicators for the UK as data-as-a-service. Data are sourced from major providers such as the Office for National Statistics, Public Health England and Police UK and made available for your area at standard geographies such as counties, districts and wards and census output areas. This premium service can be consumed as online web services or on-premise for use throughout the ArcGIS system.Read more about the NDS.

As of April 2025, the political party that 18 to 24 year-old's in Great Britain would be most likely to vote for was the Labour Party, at 39 percent, with Labour also the most popular party among those aged 25 to 49. Reform UK was the most popular party for the 50 to 64 age group, with 26 percent of voters saying they would vote for them. For the oldest age group, the Conservative Party was the most popular, with 35 percent of over 65s intending to vote for them. Reform surge in the polls Since winning the last UK general election in July 2024, the ruling Labour Party have steadily become more unpopular among voters. After winning 33.7 percent of the vote in that election, the party was polling at 24 percent in April 2025, only slightly ahead of Reform UK on 23 percent. A right-wing populist party, Reform benefited from the collapse in support for the center-right Conservative Party in the last election, winning several seats at their expense. While the next UK general election is not due to be held until 2029, the government will be keen to address their collapsing approval ratings, in the face of Reform's rising support. Economic headaches for Labour in 2025 Although Labour inherited a growing economy, with falling inflation, and low unemployment from the Conservatives, the overall economic outlook for the UK is still quite gloomy. The country's government debt is around 100 percent of GDP, and without large tax rises and spending cuts, the government hopes to create a stronger, more resilient economy to reduce the deficit. While this is still a possibility, the UK's economic prospects for 2025 were recently slashed, with growth of one percent forecast, down from an earlier prediction of two percent. Although mainly due to external factors such as the threat of increasing tariffs, and general geopolitical instability, the UK's faltering economy will add further problems to the embattled government.