The Leicester Built Up Area (BUA), Leicester Urban Area, or Greater Leicester is an urban agglomeration defined by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), centred on the City of Leicester in the East Midlands, England. It had a population of 534,820 at the time of the 2021 census, and comprises Leicester itself and its suburbs, all of which are contiguous with or situated near to the city.
As at 2011 the Greater Leicester BUA was home to 51.8% of the total population of LeicestershireCombined city and county (2001: 48.5%). A 2017 quote from the Leicester City Council website states that "The Greater Leicester urban area is one of the fastest growing in the country, with a population of about 650,000, of which 350,000 live within the city council area". The conurbation methodology was changed for the 2021 census to only amalgamate built up areas linked by a direct road connection, this resulted in a number of the 2011 areas being dropped but an reorganisation of the remaining and an overall increase in population.
Analysis: 2021
Leicester Built-up Area2021 CensusUrban subdivisionPopulation Leicester ONS406,580Wigston34,730Oadby24,030Birstall14,315Leicester Forest East and Kirby Muxloe13,850Syston13,620Enderby and Narborough 13,180Thurmaston 9,050Queniborough3,090Littlethorpe1,920Total534,820Change % from 2011 5.1%
Analysis: 2011
Leicester Built-up Area2011 CensusUrban subdivisionPopulation Leicester ONSCity329,283Leicester UNITARY329,839*less Ashton Green556 Inner suburbs114,477Wigston32,321Oadby23,849Braunstone Town16,850Thurmaston9,668Glenfield9,109Leicester Forest East6,719Glen Parva6,189Kirby Muxloe4,667Thurnby and Bushby3,301Scraptoft1,804City &inner suburbs
443,760Narborough / Enderby12,996Outer suburbs
65,156Syston12,804Blaby / Whetstone12,760Birstall12,216Groby6,782Cosby3,506Queniborough2,326Littlethorpe1,766Total508,916Change % from 2001 15.3%
Analysis: 2001
Leicester Urban Area2001 CensusUrban subdivision PopulationLeicester ONSCity273,758Leicester UNITARY279,921 *less Beaumont Leys(see below)5,579*less Ashton Green584 Inner suburbs56,816Braunstone Town14,981Syston11,608Thurmaston8,945Glenfield9,193Glen Parva5,902Thurnby and Bushby3,147Scraptoft1,521Leicester Forest East1,519City &inner suburbs
330,574Wigston 33,116 Outer suburbs
110,639Oadby 22,679 Blaby / Whetstone 12,263 Birstall 11,480 Kirby Muxloe 9,500 Groby 6,256 Beaumont Leys 5,579 Ratby 3,862 Cosby 3,647 Queniborough 2,257 Total441,213Change % from 1991 5.8%
Analysis: 1991
Leicester Urban Area1991 CensusUrban subdivision PopulationLeicester ONSCity270,493Leicester UNITARY Inner suburbs48,025Braunstone TownGlen ParvaGlenfieldLeicester Forest EastScraptoftSystonThurmastonThurnby and BushbyCity &inner suburbs
318,518Wigston32,864Outer suburbs
98,083Oadby18,538Birstall11,770Kirby Muxloe7,780Groby7,183Blaby6,538Whetstone4,032Ratby3,601Cosby3,390Queniborough2,387Total416,601Change % from 1981 3%
Analysis: 1981
Leicester Urban Area1981 CensusUrban subdivision PopulationLeicester ONSCity276,245Leicester UNITARY Inner suburbs48,149Braunstone TownGlen ParvaGlenfieldLeicester Forest EastScraptoftSystonThurmastonThurnby and BushbyCity &inner suburbs
324,394Wigston32,373Outer suburbs
80,008Oadby18,331Birstall12,519Kirby Muxloe6,896Groby4,689Ratby3,095Queniborough2,105Total404,402
Analysis: Notes The Leicester ONS sub-totals are explained with reference to the following: For 2011, there have been certain reclassifications from 'outer' to 'inner suburbs' thus contributing to the increase in population of Leicester ONS compared to 2001 and prior. The ONS's definition of "Leicester" in the 2001 census excluded the northern area of the Beaumont Leys ward, which was counted separately, and amalgamated several surrounding towns and villages. Its boundaries and population were not the same as that of the Leicester UNITARY, which had a separate population of 279,921 at the 2001 Census and includes Beaumont Leys. See the 2001 Leicester ONS analysis. Ongoing refinements in methodology between the two census dates meant that contiguous suburbs, external to the city boundaries and which were subdivided up to 2001, were merged into the 2011 Leicester ONS figure. These, along with infilling at the margins, also accounted for the removal of Ratby and the addition of new subdivisions. Leicester ONS figures do not include the Ashton Green/Glebelands/Thurcaston Park development (containing 556 residents in 2011). Although within the city boundaries, this incipient addition is in effect a satellite village given that there is 'green separation'. This categorisation is likely to change as future residential expansion planned around the development, converges towards Beaumont Leys and Birstall; both part of the urban area/BUA. The Kirby Muxloe figures up to 2001 includes the portion of Leicester Forest East which is to the west of the M1 motorway. The eastern section is part of the Leicester ONS subdivision, and is listed separately in the 2001 table.
Although Stoughton is shown as a small leg of the urban area, its figures are not counted.
See also List of settlements in Leicestershire by population List of urban areas in the United Kingdom List of metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom City Regions (United Kingdom; North, West and North Sussex-super-Mare)
References
External links Scalable Office for National Statistics map of the 2011 Leicester Urban Area Office for National Statistics: Census 2001 - Table KS01 (Usual resident population) Office for National Statistics: Census 2001 - Maps and index to urban areas