A University of Manchester study into social fragmentation in England using data from the last two censuses has revealed an increase from 2001 to 2011, especially for the North of England.

The rise was mainly driven by increases in the average number of single people across the country and the numbers of privately rented households across the country.

Between 2001 and 2011, there was a 7.5% increase in single people and a 90% increase in the privately rented household statistic, say the research team.

The study, says its authors, has profound implications on mental health provision in England.

Social fragmentation, the absence of connections between individuals and society, was defined by the team as the numbers of private renters, single people, migrants and one person households in a community.

London, Yorkshire and Humber and the South Central, the study found, had the largest increases in private renting. Similarly, the North East, West Midlands and West Midlands had the largest increases in single people. London, however, had the highest levels on both factors.

Local neighbourhoods in Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds had the highest levels of social fragmentation in the country in 2011.

London had the most neighbourhoods ranking high in social fragmentation and five Local Authorities with the highest levels were all in London. They were City of London, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham.

In comparison, areas in Northumberland, Warrington, Kettering, Solihull and the Southend-On-Sea had the lowest levels of social fragmentation. The Local Authorities of Rochford, Chiltern, East Dorset, South Staffordshire, and Hart were the least fragmented.