The most deprived neighbourhoods in the North East revealed by Government figures

Statistics released by the Government give the latest picture on deprivation at neighbourhood level across England

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Claire Miller

Katie DickinsonReporter

12:00, 12 OCT 2019

These are the most deprived neighbourhoods in the North East.

Statistics released by the Government give the latest picture on deprivation at neighbourhood level across England.

And the area around Merton Road in a bend of the Tyne, in Walker, is the most deprived area of the North East, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). It was also found to be the 32nd most deprived area in the country.

One other neighbourhood in Newcastle featured in the region's 10 most deprived neighbourhoods, and it's also in the East End.

The figures show that an area of Byker, including part of the area around Byker Bridge and Shields Road, is the eighth most deprived area in the North East and the 76th most deprived in England.

Our postcode searchable interactive gadget lets you find out how deprived where you live is compared to the rest of England.

The Office of National Statistics data is based on an average for around 100 homes per area - each neighbourhood listed includes between 1,000 and 3,000 homes.

Overall, 49% of neighbourhoods in Middlesbrough are among the most deprived 10% - the highest proportion in England.

That means that people in the local authority are much more likely to live in areas that are among the most deprived in England.

The proportion of neighbours among the most deprived was the same as in 2015, as was the area’s rank.

Hartlepool, where 36% of neighbourhoods are among the most deprived remained in 10th place.

That was up from 33% in 2015, meaning it has become relatively more deprived in the past four years.

This could be because poverty in neighbourhoods in now worse, or that other areas are improving faster.

In Newcastle, 26% of neighbourhoods are among the most deprived, up from 22%, while it rose from 22% to 25% in South Tyneside, and from 22% to 24% in Redcar and Cleveland.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is the official measure of relative deprivation in England. It broadly defines deprivation to cover a wide range of an individual’s living conditions (it involves 29 separate indicators across seven categories).

People may be considered to be living in poverty if they lack the financial resources to meet their needs, whereas people can be regarded as deprived if they lack any kind of resources, not just income.

All neighbourhoods in England are then ranked according to their level of deprivation relative to that of other areas.

Coun Clare Penny-Evans, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member for communities and climate change, said: “With our partners, the council works on many different levels to tackle poverty and deprivation in the city, but the devastating impact of 10 years of Government-imposed austerity cannot be underestimated. Coupled with cruel welfare reforms, it has taken a terrible toll on residents and families and this is what we are now seeing.

“That’s why we launched our Life Chances Fund to help give 500 of our most disadvantaged residents in the East End opportunities to get the skills and training they need to get jobs.

“The council is attracting private sector investment, and our political priorities are focused on ensuring all of our communities can enjoy the benefits of that economic growth.

“Make no mistake, public spending cuts and benefit changes have had a profound effect on families but deprivation data such as this only hardens our resolve and reminds us that we are doing the right thing targeting help at the poorest parts of the city and in the interests of fairness we will continue to do that.”