Old Drive is in Polegate and in Wealden district. BN26 5HE is located in the Polegate North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Lewes. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Old Drive, Polegate, BN26 5HE and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: BN26 5ET, BN26 5EX, BN26 5EU, BN26 5HH, BN26 5HG, BN26 5EY, BN26 5HL, BN26 5JE, BN26 5HJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around BN26 5HE is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.8% | 51.5% | 0.7% | 51.0% | 0.5% |
| Male | 49.2% | 48.5% | -0.7% | 49.0% | -0.5% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 24.1% | 29% | 4.9% | 37.9% | -8.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 53.7% | 49.3% | -4.4% | 44.2% | 5.1% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Separated | 1.4% | 3.4% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 1.2% |
| Divorced | 8.3% | 7.2% | -1.1% | 9.1% | -1.9% |
| Widowed | 12.5% | 10.1% | -2.4% | 6.1% | 4.0% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 32.2% | 36.4% | 4.2% | 48.4% | -12.0% |
| Good health | 30.6% | 37.3% | 6.7% | 33.6% | 3.7% |
| Fair health | 28.9% | 21.6% | -7.3% | 12.7% | 8.9% |
| Bad health | 6.2% | 3.4% | -2.8% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Very bad health | 2.1% | 1.3% | -0.8% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 31.9% | 21.8% | -10.1% | 18.2% | 3.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 10.6% | 11.8% | 1.2% | 9.6% | 2.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 17.1% | 11.8% | -5.3% | 13.4% | -1.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6% | 8.5% | 3.9% | 5.3% | 3.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.4% | 16.1% | 8.7% | 16.9% | -0.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 20.8% | 26.1% | 5.3% | 33.8% | -7.7% |
| Other | 7.4% | 3.8% | -3.6% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 89.4% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 1.2% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 3.1% | -1.4% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 0.1% |
| Black African | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.2% | 3% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 2.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.4% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 94.2% | 89.4% | -4.8% | 81.4% | 8.0% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Other | 0.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 0.1% |
In this area, 94.9% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 92.1% | 94.9% | 2.8% | 83.2% | 11.7% |
| European Union | 1.7% | 1.3% | -0.4% | 6.1% | -4.8% |
| Africa | 3.7% | 0% | -3.7% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 5.6% | -2.2% |
| Oceania | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91.3% | 94.5% | 3.2% | 83.2% | 11.3% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 9.8% | -6.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 2.9% | -1.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.2% | 0% | -1.2% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.8% | 0% | -5.8% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 86.6% | 76.7% | 9.9% |
| Ireland | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Oceania | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| No passport held | 12.1% | 13.5% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 40% | 37.2% | 2.8% |
| Christian | 50.6% | 46.2% | 4.4% |
| Muslim | 1.7% | 6.5% | -4.8% |
| Other religion | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Not answered | 6.8% | 6.0% | 0.8% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Old Drive was 50.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 2.7% lower than the Polegate Central average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Old Drive has the 12th highest crime rate of 31 local areas in Polegate Central and the 170th highest crime rate of 493 local areas in Wealden .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 25.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -21.4%.

Households in this area have a lower level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 74% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southdown Lodge Old Drive, Polegate, East Sussex Detached, an established residential building | £325,000 | 2015-03-27 | £457,091 |
| Southdown Lodge Old Drive, Polegate, East Sussex Detached, an established residential building | £310,000 | 2010-11-18 | £502,901 |
| Southdown Lodge Old Drive, Polegate, East Sussex Detached, an established residential building | £107,000 | 1999-07-14 | £402,086 |
BN26 5HE area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
The percentage of retired residents living in BN26 5HE area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 49% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 101 |
| Full-Time Employee | 44 |
| Part-Time Employee | 26 |
| Self-Employed | 16 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Other | 4 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 20 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Education | 9 |
| Other | 6 |
| Construction | 6 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 5 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 4 |
| Transport and storage | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 3 |
| Manufacturing | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate Primary School Oakleaf Drive , East Sussex BN26 6PT | 3out of 4 | 862 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Willingdon Primary School Rapsons Road , Willingdon BN20 9RJ | 3out of 4 | 1,508 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Oakwood Primary Academy Magnolia Drive , BN22 0SS | 3out of 4 | 2,972 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Parkland Infant School Brassey Avenue , BN22 9QJ | 3out of 4 | 3,665 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Parkland Junior School Brassey Avenue , BN22 9QJ | 3out of 4 | 3,665 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willingdon Community School Broad Road , Lower Willingdon BN20 9QX | 3out of 4 | 1,147 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Eastbourne Academy Brodrick Road , BN22 9RQ | 3out of 4 | 3,303 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ratton School Park Avenue , BN21 2XR | 3out of 4 | 3,975 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Turing School Larkspur Drive , BN23 8EJ | - not rated | 4,314 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Sussex College Group Cross Levels Way , BN21 2UF | - not rated | 4,669 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cavendish School Eldon Road , BN21 1UE | 3out of 4 | 5,206 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lindfield School Lindfield Road , Hampden Park BN22 0BQ | 4out of 4 | 3,249 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| College Central 124 Brodrick Road , BN22 9RB | 3out of 4 | 3,675 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazel Court School Larkspur Drive , BN23 8EJ | 3out of 4 | 4,299 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The South Downs School Beechy Avenue , BN20 8NU | 4out of 4 | 5,407 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Viceroy | 5 Grand Parade | 133 yd | |
| Costa Coffee | 2, The Centre High Street | 383 yd | |
| Cherry Tree Eatery | 71 High Street | 396 yd | |
| The Mill Cafe | 6, The Centre High Street | 404 yd | |
| Your Cafe and Bakery Ltd | 43 Farmlands Way | 818 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thoroughbred Inn | 6 - 7 Grand Parade | 155 yd | |
| Horse & Groom | The Horse And Groom, 1 High Street | 167 yd | |
| Royal British legion Club Ltd | 27 Victoria Road | 337 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate Fisheries | 31 High Street | 271 yd | |
| Tiffin 2 Go | 36 High Street | 391 yd | |
| Snack Attack | 40 High Street | 401 yd | |
| The Coffee Stop | Polegate Railway Station High Street | 405 yd | |
| Calamar | 46 High Street | 418 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Co-operative Group Food Limited | 7, The Centre High Street | 417 yd | |
| Tesco Express | 94 Eastbourne Road | 566 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Polegate War Memorial Ground POLEGATE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE POLEGATE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE WANNOCK ROAD | grass pitches | 317 yd |
| Polegate Community Centre WINDSOR WAY | 626 yd | |
| The William Daly Recreation Ground BRIGHTLING ROAD | grass pitches | 809 yd |
| Polegate School OAKLEAF DRIVE | grass pitches, swimming pool | 820 yd |
| Willingdon Community School BROAD ROAD | grass pitches | 1,082 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.