West Berkshire has been confirmed as one of the least deprived areas in the country.
West Berkshire has been confirmed as one of the least deprived areas in the UK, according to new government data.
Out of 296 local authorities, it ranks among the lowest, alongside Reading, Wokingham, Slough, Bracknell Forest, and Windsor and Maidenhead, all of which also have no deprived neighbourhoods.
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation, West Berkshire has no deprived neighbourhoods. In contrast, Middlesbrough is at the other end of the spectrum, with 50% of its neighbourhoods classified as highly deprived.
The Index ranks England’s 33,755 neighbourhoods based on factors such as income, employment, education, crime, health, and living conditions. It doesn’t quantify whether areas are getting better or worse over time but highlights relative changes.
The report is also used by governmental bodies to determine resource allocation for local services, like the recent £5bn Pride in Place funding aimed at supporting 'overlooked' communities.
Historically, areas with heavy industry or mining, along with parts of East London and several coastal towns, have been notably affected by deprivation.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
