Population and Migration Home Page and HighlightsThe South West has over 5 million residents, of whom 80% live in a city or a town and its immediate environs – a lower proportion than any other region. Population distribution has important financial implications for government bodies because it is often more expensive to service dispersed rather than concentrated populations. Reaching potentially vulnerable groups in rural areas is also a key challenge, not least because the small numbers involved often make them ‘invisible’ in official measures of deprivation (see social & welfare chapter).
The South West has the oldest age structure of all the England regions. Age structure has important economic, labour market and planning implications as well as having a direct impact on the nature of public services demanded (see Ageing Population chapter). The South West has one of the smallest ethnic minority populations of all the English regions, both overall and as a proportion of the total population. Inter-regional disparities in population growth are projected to continue
with the fastest rates of population growth expected in the East of England,
South West, London and South East. Accommodating this growth successfully
will be a key challenge for regional and local planners. Whilst population
growth can aid economic objectives, it can raise environmental concerns through
the generation of more waste, increased energy consumption, rising demand
for housing and increased road traffic volumes. The South West’s population has grown
entirely due to net migration particularly from the South East and London.
Migration patterns and house
price differentials between regions can have significant impacts on local
housing markets since incomers from areas with higher house prices can have
greater purchasing power than existing residents. Problems of lack of affordable
housing are further exacerbated by high levels of second homes in some costal
and rural areas. |
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