[Skip to content]

South West Observatory
Search our Site
South West Observatory
.

Bath & North East Somerset (Local Profiles 2012)

Add to favourites

Key Facts

> Life expectancy in B&NES for both men (80.1 years) and women (83.7 years) was higher than the South West and England average.

> The rate of teenage conception in B&NES (25.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-17) was the lowest in the 15 county and unitary authorities in the South West.

> The crime rate in B&NES (29.0 per 1,000 population) was lower than the rate for the South West and England and Wales.

> Median gross annual pay in B&NES was £25,948 (South West £24,922, England £26,165)

> The latest unemployment rate for B&NES is 5.7% (South West 6.0%, England 7.6%)

> 64.0% of B&NES pupils achieved 5+ GCSEs grades A*-C or equivalent, including Maths and English (South West 57.5%, England 58.3%).

> B&NES lowest quartile affordability ratio (house price to earnings ratio: a higher ratio means less affordable housing) was 9.6 (South West 8.2, England 6.7).

> There were 273 road casualties per 100,000 population in B&NES (South West 310, England 355).

People & Governance

Population by Area
  • At 179,700 the population of B&NES accounts for around 3.4% of the total South West population.
  • With 519 persons per sq km, B&NES is the 9th most densely populated area of the 16 South West county and unitary authorities.
  • Bath is the largest urban area in B&NES.  At the time of the 2001 Census, it was the 9th largest South West town or city, with a population of around 90,000.

 

Population

(000s)

Area

(sq km)

Persons per sq km

B&NES

177.7

346

519

West of England LEP

1,097.9

1,327

827

South West

5,273.7

23,837

221

England

52,234.0

130,281

401

ONS Mid Year Estimates 2010 / ONS Census 2001 Urban Area data

Population Change Since the 2001 Census
  • B&NES had a 6.3% increase in population since the 2001 census, the same as the England average, but lower than the South West increase (7.0%). The population change for the other local authorities in the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership are also shown below.
[ Zoom ]
BANES Local Profile Percentage Population Change since 2001 Census
BANES Local Profile Percentage Population Change since 2001 Census
Census 2001 and ONS Mid-Year Estimate 2010

Population by Age
  • B&NES has the 3rd highest proportion of working age people among the 16 South West county and unitary authorities, after Bristol and Swindon.
  • B&NES also has the 4th lowest proportions of older people and children.

[ Zoom ]
BANES Local Profile Population by Age
BANES Local Profile Population by Age
ONS 2001 Census

Local Authority

Political Representation
  • The B&NES area includes 2 Parliamentary Constituencies: Bath which has a Liberal Democrat MP; and Somerset North East which has a Conservative MP.
  • No political party currently has a majority of Councillors in B&NES Council. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have the equal highest number of councillors.
[ Zoom ]
BANES Local Profile Councillors by Party
BANES Local Profile Councillors by Party

Earnings and the Economy

Gross Annual Pay
  • Median gross full-time annual pay among B&NES residents is £25,948, a fall of 1.1% from 2010. This is above the South West (£24,922) but below England (£26,615).
  • The equivalent pay figure for those working in B&NES is £25,073, indicating that higher earners tend to commute out of the area.
  • Median gross full-time annual pay for B&NES resident men is 16% higher than women. In the South West men’s pay is 29% higher and in England 25% higher.

ONS Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings (ASHE) 2011

Productivity (GVA)
  • For Gross Value Added (GVA) calculations, B&NES is included in a NUTS3 area with South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
  • In 2009, GVA per head was £20,399, the 4th highest of the 12 NUTS3 areas in the South West. The equivalent for the South West was £18,184, England £20,498.
  • Between 2008 and 2009 there was a decrease in GVA per head in this NUTS3 area, of -2.3% (South West -2.3%, England -2.2%).
  • Over the last 10 years this NUTS3 area’s GVA per head has increased by 49.6% (South West 43.2%, England 44.3%).

ONS Gross Value Added 1997-2009 (ONS Dec 11)

Local Enterprise Zones (LEPs)
  • Local Enterprise Partnerships are locally-owned partnerships between local authorities and businesses and play a central role in determining local economic priorities and undertaking activities to drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs.
  • B&NES is in the West of England LEP, along with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The table below summaries some key facts across local authorities within this LEP:

  Median Pay Enterprise 3-year Survival Rate (from 2007) School Qualifications* Median House Price Affordability** Crime Rate (per 1,000 pop)
B&NES £25,948 65.30% 64.00% £227,500 9.6 29
Bristol £25,269 61.60% 49.70% £167,250 7.1 64.1
N Somerset £28,708 64.60% 57.40% £175,000 7.9 31.8
S Glos £26,703 66.80% 55.40% £175,000 7.8 30.6
South West £24,922 65.90% 57.50% £181,500 8.2 33.8
England £26,615 62.90% 58.30% £175,000 6.7 41.3
* % scoring 5+ GCSEs at grade A*-C, including Maths and English
** ratio of lowest quartile earnings to lowest quartile house prices

Enterprise Survival Rate
  • At the end of 2010, there were 39,785 VAT/PAYE registered businesses in the West of England LEP area, of which 7,730 were in B&NES.
  • The number of VAT/PAYE registered businesses in B&NES decreased by 0.2% during 2009 (South West –2.1%, England –1.9%).
  • The 3-year survival rate of enterprises that started in 2007 in B&NES is 65.3% (South West 65.9%, England 62.9%).
  • This rate has decreased from 73.3% in 2006.
  • B&NES had 750 new businesses in 2010, an increase of 18.1% from 2009 (South West -0.6%, England -0.7%). This was the largest increase of any unitary or county authority in the South West.

ONS Business Demography 2010
Data Limitations: Business Demography statistics exclude Agriculture

Employment

Unemployment and Claimant Rate
  • The latest employment rate in B&NES is above the England rate, but fell in the year to Dec 10 and is lower than the South West rate overall.

% of working age population

Jan 09 – Dec 09

Jan 10 – Dec 10

% point change

B&NES

72.6

71.3

-1.3

South West

74.2

73.6

-0.6

England

70.9

70.4

-0.5

  • The latest unemployment rate for B&NES is 5.7% of the economically active 16+ population (South West 6.0%, England 7.6%).
  • B&NES’ claimant count rate is higher than the same period a year ago but is still lower than both South West and England rates.
[ Zoom ]
BANES Total Claimants as Percentage of Working Age Population
BANES Total Claimants as Percentage of Working Age Population
ONS Claimant Count, Dec 2011

Employment by Sector
  • The largest proportion of jobs in B&NES is in public administration (including defence), education and health (37.8%), a much higher proportion than either England or the South West.
[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile Employment by Sector
B&NES Local Profile Employment by Sector

Education and Skills

School Qualifications
  • In 2010/11, 64.0% of B&NES Local Education Authority (LEA) pupils achieved 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at Grade A*-C including English and Maths by the end of Key Stage 4. This was higher than the averages for the South West (57.5%) and England (58.3% - all schools), and the highest of the 16 South West LEAs.
  • B&NES LEA’s latest Key Stage 2 results were also higher than the South West and England averages. The pass rate for English was joint highest in the South West.
[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile School Qualifications
B&NES Local Profile School Qualifications
School Absenteeism
  • The percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence by pupils in B&NES primary schools is 0.4%, lower than both the South West and England rates.
  • In secondary schools it is 1.43%. This rate is higher than the rate for both England the South West.

% of half days missed,

Unauthorised absence

Maintained

primary schools

Maintained

secondary schools

B&NES

0.40

1.43

South West

0.49

1.10

England

0.67

1.38

DfE Pupil Absence in Schools in England 2009/10

Workforce Qualifications
  • The percentage of B&NES workforce with no qualifications (6.4%) is lower than the South West (8.4%) and England (11.1%).
  • B&NES has the 3rd highest proportion of people qualified to NVQ level 4 (degree & equiv.) (35.9%) of and county or unitary authority in the South West (South West 31.3%, England 31.1%).
[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile Highest Qualification (% aged 16-64)
B&NES Local Profile Highest Qualification (% aged 16-64)
ONS Annual Population Survey year ending Dec 2010

Health

Life Expectancy
  • Male life expectancy in the B&NES area is 80.1 years (South West 79.2, England 78.3).
  • Female life expectancy is 83.7 years (South West 83.3, England 82.3).
  • These were the 62nd (for men) and 65th (for women) longest life expectancies out of 326 unitary and district Authorities in England.

ONS Life Expectancy at Birth 3-year rolling average 2007-09

Infant Mortality
  • B&NES has an infant mortality below that of both the South West and England.
  • In recent years the trend of the B&NES rate has been variable, whilst the rates for England and South West have fallen.
  • B&NES had the 5th lowest rate amongst the 15* unitary and county authorities in the South West.

Mortality all causes – Infants < 1 year

Deaths/1000 live births

2004-06

2005-07

2006-08

2007-09

B&NES

4.3

4.0

4.3

3.8

South West

4.4

4.2

4.1

4.0

England

5.0

4.9

4.8

4.7

National Centre for Health Outcomes Development 3-yr rolling average 2007-09. * Excluding the Isles of Scilly

Teenage Conceptions
  • B&NES’ teenage conception rate is the lowest of the 15 South West county and unitary authorities.
  • This is lower than 3 years previously, in line with the England value which has steadily reduced.

Conception rates per 1000 women aged 15-17

3-year rolling averages

2001-03

2004-06

2007-09

B&NES

26.2

26.7

25.5

South West

35.5

34.3

34.5

England

42.4

41.1

40.2

ONS 3-year rolling average 2007-09

NHS Trust Performance Indicators
  • The Care Quality Commission’s Annual Health Check gives all NHS organisations a two-part annual performance rating.

Healthcare organisation

Overall quality of services*

Financial Management score*

Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

Good

Good

Bath & North East Somerset PCT

Good

Good

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Fair

Good

Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Weak

Fair

Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS Foundation Trust

Good

Fair

*excellent, good, fair, or weak

  • Of the 12 Ambulance Services in England, Great Western had the 4th lowest response rate for 8 minute response times and 2nd lowest rate for 19 minute response times in 2010/11. Both rates have improved from the previous year.

Ambulance response

time target – Category A

Great Western

England target

Arrive within 8 minutes

74.3%

>75%

Arrive within 19 minutes

95.1%

>95%

Care Quality Commission Annual Health Check 2008-09  / DH Ambulance Services, England 2010-11

Crime

Key Offences
  • In 2010/11, B&NES had the 10th highest overall crime rate among the 16 South West county and unitary authorities.
  • The rate per 1,000 population (29.0) for overall crime was lower than for the South West (33.8) and England & Wales (41.3).
  • The rate of violence against the person (15.3 per 1,000 population) was higher than the South West rate (13.1) during this period.
  • Between 2009/10 and 2010/11 there were decreases across all the key offences shown below in B&NES.
  • In 2010/11 Avon & Somerset Police ranked lowest of all South West force areas for people having confidence in the police and local councils dealing with issues (52.6% strongly agree/tend to agree: England and Wales average was 52.7%).

[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile Offences per 1000
B&NES Local Profile Offences per 1000
* Burglary: Offences per 1,000 households
# Aggregates theft of a vehicle and theft from a vehicle
Home Office Crime in England & Wales 20010/11/British Crime Survey 2010/11

Indices of Multiple Deprivation

  • In the latest (2010) Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) none of B&NES 115 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) were in the most deprived 10% in England.
  • Five LSOAs were in the most deprived 20% in England, one more than in 2007.

[ Zoom ]
Bath & NE Somerset Local Profile IMD 2010
Bath & NE Somerset Local Profile IMD 2010

Housing

House Prices
  • In the first quarter (Q1) of 2011 median house price in B&NES was £227,500, 25% above the South West median (£181,500), and 30% above the England median (£175,000).  It was the highest of the 15 South West county and unitary authorities (excluding the Isles of Scilly).
  • This median price represents a 3% decrease from the previous quarter, and a 5% decrease from the same quarter in 2010.
[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile Median House Prices
B&NES Local Profile Median House Prices
House Prices: DCLG Table 582

Affordability
  • Affordability ratios are calculated as house price divided by annual workplace-based earnings.
  • Using median house prices and earnings gives a median affordability ratio in B&NES of 9.2, the second highest of South West county and unitary authorities (South West 7.9, England 7.0).
  • The lower quartile (LQ) ratio based on lower quartile house prices and earnings better reflects the first time buyers’ market.  B&NES’ LQ ratio is 9.6, again the second highest of South West county and unitary authorities (South West 8.2, England 6.7).

DCLG Tables 576 and 577

Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation
  • In the financial year of 2010/11, B&NES accepted 100 households (1.3 per 1,000) as being homeless and in priority need (South West 1.5, England 2.0). B&NES had 27 households in temporary accommodation, 4 of which were in bed and breakfast accommodation.
  • In the same year in B&NES there were a total of 366 households where positive action was successful in preventing or relieving homelessness (7.5 per 1,000 households, South West 7.2, England 8.7).

DCLG Tables 784 and 792. For more information on homelessness prevention and relief data see:  http://bit.ly/pRGark

Planning and Land Use

Planning Decisions
  • In the year ending March 2011, B&NES made decisions on 2,193 planning applications, 87 of which were for major developments.
  • Time taken to decide applications by different development type are shown in the table below.

Land Use

  • In 2007-10, 85% of new dwellings in B&NES were built on previously developed land.  This was higher than the South West (66%) and England (77%) averages.
  • This is an increase on the 2003-06 proportion (72%).
  • In 2007-10, the number of new dwellings built per hectare in B&NES was 35 (South West: 38, England 43). This was slightly higher than the 2003-06 density of 34/ha.

CLG Land Use Change in England to 2010
Speed of decision by development type
  % major within 13 weeks % minor within 8 weeks % other within 8 weeks
B&NES 48 64 74
South West 64 72 84
England 66 75 86
CLG Statistics of Planning Applications to year ending Mar 11

Environment

  • The South West Observatory and the Environment Agency have produced a series of Environment Profiles for local authorities in the South West. These can be found here:http://www.swenvo.org.uk/south-west-local-profiles/ (also see below)

Environmental Designations
  • B&NES contains part of the Mendip Hills and Cotswolds Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
  • Several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are included in B&NES, including Chew Valley Lake, Blagdon Lake, Cleaves Wood and Browns Folly.

Natural England GIS Digital Boundary Datasets, Dec 2011

Green Belt
  • The former Avon area includes 64,160 hectares of designated Green Belt land, just above 58% of the total Green Belt designated for the whole South West.
  • 24,790 hectares of this is within the B&NES area.

CLG Local Planning Authority Green Belt Statistics 2010/11


Transport

Road Casualties
  • In 2010, there were 273 road casualties per 100,000 people in B&NES, lower than the rates for the South West (310) or England (355).
  • 7.9% of these casualties resulted in death or serious injury, lower than the South West and England rates (both 11.5%).
    DfT Road Casualties Great Britain 2010

Travel to Work
  • The 2001 Census measured travel to work patterns. B&NES had a higher proportion of people walking or cycling to work than either the South West or England.

ONS Census 2001 Key Statistics

[ Zoom ]
B&NES Local Profile Means of Travel to Work
B&NES Local Profile Means of Travel to Work

Download Graphs & Charts

Please use these files in presentations/reports, but remember to reference the South West Observatory, providing a hyperlink to this page where possible.

Useful Resources

General

Download this Local Profile as a PDF

Research & Intelligence  (via Bath & North East Somerset website)

Economy & Skills

Learn more about the West of England LEP Economic Profile

Social

Download APHO's Bath & North East Somerset Health Profile

Download SWO's IMD 2010 North Somerset Report

Infrastructure & Environment

Download SWO's Environment Profile for North Somerset

To download charts and graphs from this report see below.