# Leicester urban area

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. With a population of 559,017 at the time of the 2021 census, Greater Leicester BUA is the eleventh largest in England and thirteenth largest in the United Kingdom. It comprises Leicester itself and its suburbs, all of which are contiguous with or situated in close proximity to the city.
As at 2011 the Greater Leicester BUA was home to 51.8% of the total population of Leicestershire (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".

## Analysis: 2011

Leicester Built-up Area 2011 Census :
| Urban subdivision | Population | Population |
| Leicester | City & inner suburbs in detail  City 329,283 Leicester 329,839 *less Ashton Green 556   Inner suburbs 114,477 Wigston 32,321 Oadby 23,849 Braunstone Town 16,850 Thurmaston 9,668 Glenfield 9,109 Leicester Forest East 6,719 Glen Parva 6,189 Kirby Muxloe 4,667 Thurnby and Bushby 3,301 Scraptoft 1,804 | City & inner suburbs 443,760 |
| Narborough / Enderby | 12,996 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Syston | 12,804 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Blaby / Whetstone | 12,760 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Birstall | 12,216 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Groby | 6,782 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Cosby | 3,506 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Queniborough | 2,326 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Littlethorpe | 1,766 | Outer suburbs 65,156 |
| Total | Total | 508,916 |
| Change % from 2001 | Change % from 2001 | 15.3% |

## Analysis: 2001

Leicester Urban Area 2001 Census :
| Urban subdivision | Population | Population |
| Leicester | City & inner suburbs in detail  City 273,758 Leicester 279,921 *less Beaumont Leys (see below) 5,579 *less Ashton Green 584   Inner suburbs 56,816 Braunstone Town 14,981 Syston 11,608 Thurmaston 8,945 Glenfield 9,193 Glen Parva 5,902 Thurnby and Bushby 3,147 Scraptoft 1,521 Leicester Forest East 1,519 | City & inner suburbs 330,574 |
| Wigston | 33,116 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Oadby | 22,679 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Blaby / Whetstone | 12,263 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Birstall | 11,480 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Kirby Muxloe | 9,500 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Groby | 6,256 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Beaumont Leys | 5,579 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Ratby | 3,862 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Cosby | 3,647 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Queniborough | 2,257 | Outer suburbs 110,639 |
| Total | Total | 441,213 |
| Change % from 1991 | Change % from 1991 | 5.8% |

## Analysis: 1991

Leicester Urban Area 1991 Census :
| Urban subdivision | Population | Population |
| Leicester | City & inner suburbs in detail  City 270,493 Leicester   Inner suburbs 48,025 Braunstone Town Glen Parva Glenfield Leicester Forest East Scraptoft Syston Thurmaston Thurnby and Bushby | City & inner suburbs 318,518 |
| Wigston | 32,864 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Oadby | 18,538 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Birstall | 11,770 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Kirby Muxloe | 7,780 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Groby | 7,183 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Blaby | 6,538 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Whetstone | 4,032 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Ratby | 3,601 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Cosby | 3,390 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Queniborough | 2,387 | Outer suburbs 98,083 |
| Total | Total | 416,601 |
| Change % from 1981 | Change % from 1981 | 3% |

## Analysis: 1981

Leicester Urban Area 1981 Census :
| Urban subdivision | Population | Population |
| Leicester | City & inner suburbs in detail  City 276,245 Leicester   Inner suburbs 48,149 Braunstone Town Glen Parva Glenfield Leicester Forest East Scraptoft Syston Thurmaston Thurnby and Bushby | City & inner suburbs 324,394 |
| Wigston | 32,373 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Oadby | 18,331 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Birstall | 12,519 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Kirby Muxloe | 6,896 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Groby | 4,689 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Ratby | 3,095 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Queniborough | 2,105 | Outer suburbs 80,008 |
| Total | Total | 404,402 |

## Analysis: Notes

The Leicester 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 , 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.
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