Households

1.37 There were estimated to be 2,153,000 households in South West England in Spring 2006. The largest proportion - approximately a third - was made up of a married couple with no children. This is the highest proportion of such households in England.  At 8.0%, the South West had the lowest proportion of single parent households in England, after the East of England.

Table 1.2 Households by Type spring 2006
 

Percentages and thousands
  One person Two or more un-related adults With dependent children With non- dependent children only With no children With dependent children With non - dependent children only Two or more families1 Total households (=100%) (thousands)
South West 28.7 3.3 20.8 5.6 32.7 5.3 2.7 1.0 2,153
England 28.3 3.2 22.0 6.0 29.2 7.1 3.0 1.1 20,788
Source: Labour Force Survey Household Datasets, Spring 2006, Region in Figures

    1.38 Whilst some households share accommodation and others have more than one dwelling, the formation of households is a strong indicator of the demand for housing. A major contributor to household growth is the growth in population, but more people living in smaller or single person households can lead to an increase in the demand for housing even without overall population growth. Projections of household numbers are subject to many variables and, especially at the district level, need to be treated with some caution. At 30% over the period 2004-2029, household growth in the South West is expected to be faster than for any other English region. Many local authorities are projected to experience a growth of over 40% over the period and Torridge is expected to grow by 52%.  Lowest household growth rates are expected in Poole (15%) and Christchurch (14%).

    For information on household income and expenditure please see the Economy chapter. For information on household waste please see the Environment chapter.

    1.39 In the 2001 Census, 7,018 people described themselves as living in same-sex couples in the South West, making up 0.18% of the region's population. This figure is close to the England average, but significantly lower than the figure for London (0.38%). The highest proportion in the South West was in Bournemouth, at 0.41%. These figures cannot be equated with patterns of homosexuality.

    Figure 1.42 Same Sex Couples by Local Authority Spring 2001, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Same Sex Couples by Local Authority Spring 2001, percentages

    1.40 Information on traveller households is available from the bi-annual Count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans. This showed 2,366 caravans in the South West in July 2007. More information is available from the Department of Communities and Local Government web site.

    Table 1.7 Sub Regional Household Projections, England (2004 based)
      2004 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2029 % Increase 2004-29 (households)
     

    Thousands

    ENGLAND 21,062 21,519 22,646 23,837 24,973 25,975 26,497 26
    SOUTH WEST 2,160 2,212 2,346 2,489 2,628 2,752 2,817 30
    Bath and NE Somerset UA 73 74 78 82 86 90 92 26
    Bournemouth UA 73 74 78 81 85 88 90 23
    City of Bristol UA 169 173 182 191 200 207 211 25
    North Somerset UA 83 85 91 97 103 108 111 34
    Plymouth UA 106 108 114 120 125 129 131 24
    Poole UA 59 60 61 63 65 67 68 15
    South Gloucestershire UA 101 104 109 116 121 126 129 28
    Swindon UA 77 79 83 87 90 93 95 23
    Torbay UA 59 61 66 72 77 81 84 42
    Caradon 35 36 39 41 44 46 47 34
    Carrick 40 41 44 47 50 52 54 35
    Kerrier 41 43 46 49 53 56 57 39
    North Cornwall 36 38 41 44 47 50 52 44
    Penwith 29 30 31 33 35 37 38 31
    Restormel 43 44 48 52 56 60 61 42
    Isles of Scilly 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  
    East Devon 57 58 62 67 72 76 79 39
    Exeter 49 51 56 60 64 68 69 41
    North Devon 38 39 42 45 47 50 51 34
    South Hams 35 36 38 40 42 43 44 26
    Teignbridge 54 55 59 63 68 72 74 37
    Mid Devon 30 32 34 37 40 42 44 47
    Torridge 27 28 31 34 37 39 41 52
    West Devon 21 22 23 25 26 28 29 38
    Christchurch 21 21 21 22 23 24 24 14
    East Dorset 37 37 39 41 43 44 45 22
    North Dorset 27 28 30 32 35 37 38 41
    Purbeck 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 26
    West Dorset 42 43 46 49 53 56 57 36
    Weymouth and Portland 28 29 30 32 34 35 36 29
    Cheltenham 49 50 52 55 57 59 60 22
    Cotswold 36 36 38 41 43 45 46 28
    Forest of Dean 33 34 35 37 38 39 40 21
    Gloucester 47 48 50 52 54 56 57 21
    Stroud 46 47 49 51 53 55 56 22
    Tewkesbury 33 34 36 38 40 42 43 30
    Mendip 45 46 49 52 55 58 59 31
    Sedgemoor 47 48 51 55 59 62 64 36
    South Somerset 66 68 73 78 82 87 89 35
    Taunton Deane 46 48 52 56 59 63 65 41
    West Somerset 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 31
    Kennet 30 31 33 34 36 38 39 30
    North Wiltshire 52 53 56 59 62 65 66 27
    Salisbury 49 49 52 55 58 60 61 24
    West Wiltshire 52 54 59 64 69 73 76 46
    The household projections  are an indication of the likely increase in households given the continuation of recent demographic trends and are not an assessment of housing need and do not take account of future policies.
    Sub regional household projections are less robust than those at the regional level, particularly for those areas with relatively small numbers of households. This should be taken into account in using the figures). The sub regional household projections are not 'National Statistics'.
    Source: ONS