The Leicester Built Up Area (BUA), Leicester Urban Area, or Greater Leicester is an

urban agglomeration An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas originate through urbanization, and researchers categorize them as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbani ...

defined by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), centred on the City of Leicester in the

East Midlands The East Midlands is one of nine official regions of England. It comprises the eastern half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It consists of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (except for North Lincolnshire and North East ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. 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 Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...

(2001: 48.5%). A 2017 quote from the

Leicester City Council Leicester City Council is the local authority for the city of Leicester, in the ceremonial county of Leicestershire, England. Leicester has had a council from medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1997 the 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

Analysis: 2001

Analysis: 1991

Analysis: 1981

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
Unitary may refer to:
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* Unitary divisor
* Unitary element
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* ''E''-unitary inverse semigr ...
''}, 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.

References

External links

Scalable Office for National Statistics map of the 2011 Leicester Urban AreaOffice for National Statistics: Census 2001 - Table KS01 (Usual resident population)Office for National Statistics: Census 2001 - Maps and index to urban areas
{{Leicestershire Leicester Geography of Leicestershire Urban areas of England