Southampton neighbourhood profiles

Southampton neighbourhood profiles

To enable integrated neighbourhood health and care delivery, Southampton has been split into six neighbourhoods. They are (mostly) made up of three existing electoral wards and range from around 30,000 to 50,000 residents.

Each neighbourhood has been profiled based on its unique composition and need. These profiles will be used to prioritise and inform service delivery at a local level in Southampton. Below is a summary of the six profiles and deep dives into each area.

For more information on the underlying paper behind the neighbourhood profiles see the Department of Health & Social Care: Neighbourhood health framework.

West neighbourhood profile

The West neighbourhood is made up of three wards covering, Coxford, Millbrook and Redbridge.

Nearly half (47.3%) of residents in the West neighbourhood live in the most deprived area using the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025 (IMD1),  (England’s most deprived 20% LSOAs). By this measure it is Southampton’s most deprived neighbourhood by far. Millbrook and Redbridge have among the highest proportion of young people (0-16 years) in the city. These wards also have the highest rates of children in need. Coxford is slightly less deprived than the rest of the neighbourhood but has an acute need for adult social care, new care requests are higher than almost anywhere else in the city.

The adult population here has significantly fewer qualifications than the rest of the city, however employment is around the city average. Health outcomes are also around the city average, but self reported poor health and disability is significantly higher here. The population in the West neighbourhood is growing very slowly, forecast to increase by fewer than 80 people (0.2%) by 2030.

For more information on the West neighbourhood profile see the slide set below.

North East neighbourhood profile

Southampton’s North East neighbourhood is made up of three wards, Bitterne Park, Harefield and Thornhill. Each of these wards have very different deprivation profiles, based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2025. More than 34% of residents in this neighbourhood live in IMD1 (the most deprived 20% LSOAs in England), most of these residents live in Thornhill. More than half of Thornhill’s LSOAs are in IMD1, the other LSOAs are all more deprived than the England average.

Harefield is generally less deprived than Thornhill, but more deprived than the England average. Bitterne Park is one of the least deprived wards in the city, with some pockets of deprivation. Bitterne Park is significantly better than the city average for many health, crime and education measures. Harefield is around the city average. Thornhill is often significantly worse. This high, medium and low pattern is a recurring theme in this neighbourhood. Thornhill has some of the city’s biggest social care needs and some of the worst health outcomes.

The population is expected to grow by around 500 in the North East neighbourhood (1.2%) by 2030.

For more in depth in formation on the North East neighbourhood see the slide set below.

Central neighbourhood profile

Central neighbourhood is made up of three wards, Banister & Polygon, Bevois and Bargate.

Central is the most populated neighbourhood and is culturally and ethnically diverse. The population is relatively young and well qualified (with a large student population). however unemployment is significantly higher than the city average. Crime is significantly higher here. Central has some of the most deprived areas of the city. 29% of residents here live in IMD1 (England’s most deprived 20% LSOAs). LSOA E01032755 in St Marys is the second most deprived LSOA in Southampton.

There is stark inequality within this neighbourhood, LSOA E01032748 (Town Quay and Ocean Village at the southern end of Bargate) is one of the least deprived LSOAs in Southampton.

This inequality is also evident in the different life expectancy rates for the wards that make up this neighbourhood. Bargate has the best life expectancy for males and females in the city while Bevois and Banister & Polygon are among the worst.

The population here is growing fast and is forecast to increase by more than 9,000 (17%) by 2030 (43% growth in the 65+ age group).

For more information on the Central neighbourhood see the slide set below.

South East neighbourhood profile

The South East neighbourhood covers the wards of Peartree, Sholing and Woolston. The wards of Sholing and Woolston has a higher proportion of residents aged 65+.

This neighbourhood also has some of the worst mortality rates and shortest life expectancy in the city. Hospital admissions due to falls are also higher here.

Peartree has an acute need for adult social care. The number of care contacts, safeguarding concerns and section 42 enquiries are the highest in Southampton.

17.7% of residents live in IMD1 (England’s most deprived 20% LSOAs). All three LSOAs in IMD1 are in the South East corner of Woolston, E01017281 (Weston Shore) is the most deprived LSOA in Southampton.

Geographical isolation and active travel is a challenge in parts of this neighbourhood, with all wards significantly worse than the city average for walking or cycling to work. Self reported bad health and disability is also high in this neighbourhood, especially in Woolston.

The population is growing slowly, forecast to increase by less than 300 (0.6%) by 2030.

More information on the South East neighbourhood is available below.

North neighbourhood profile

The North neighbourhood is made up of three wards covering Bassett, Swaythling and Portswood.

Southampton’s North neighbourhood is one of the least deprived parts of the city, with 6.3% of residents living in IMD1 (England’s most deprived 20% LSOAs). Some of the least deprived areas in England are in the west half of this neighbourhood (Bassett and the west half of Portswood). LSOA E01017226 adjacent to Southampton Common is the least deprived LSOA in the city (one of the least deprived 10% LSOAs in England).

In contrast, most of Swaythling and the east half of Portswood is more deprived than the England average. This inequality is evident in some health and education measures.

The population here is culturally and ethnically diverse. All three wards that make up this neighbourhood are in the city’s top six for ethnic diversity (% of population that are minority ethnic groups). The population is relatively young and is expected to grow by less than 1% (around 300) by 2030.

More information on the North neighbourhood is available in the slide set below.

West Central neighbourhood profile

Southampton’s smallest neighbourhood by population, West Central is the only one made up of just two wards (Freemantle and Shirley). There are 16 LSOAs here, 11 are more deprived than the England average however only one is in IMD1 (England’s most deprived 20% LSOAs). This is LSOA E01017250 next to Shirley High Street.

Almost sharing a border, E01017248 (on the western side of Southampton Common) is one of the least deprived areas in England, showing the close geography of inequality in the city.

Average life expectancy and most measures of health are around the city average or better in this neighbourhood. However, Shirley has some acute ASC needs and Freemantle has some of the highest drug related admission rates in the city.

Education attainment and attendance is significantly better here than the rest of Southampton. Nearly a third of Shirley is taken up by Southampton Common. It has the best active travel rates and the highest percent of greenspace of all wards in Southampton.

The population is growing slowly, forecast to increase by around 400 (1.4%) by 2030.

More information on the West Central neighbourhood is available in the slide set below.