Rural migration in Britain Rose Gilroy Newcastle University

Change: demographics 20 years ago rural districts and urban areas had similar demographic profiles Compared to urban areas, rural places now have higher populations of those aged and of those aged 65(+).Rural places are ageing faster. Over the same 20 years those in the year age group has fallen from 21% to 15% of the rural population

Median age : urban and rural places in Britain [Yellow banding is 2001; Orange is 2004]. Source CRC (2007) State of the Countryside report

Change: Inward migration from urban areas There has been a long standing trend of urban to rural migration. Most rural in-migration is by those aged 30 to 45, often with children. The is a steady inflow from those aged between 45 to 65. However there is a net outflow of people aged between 15 and 30.

Top ten districts with greatest in migration in 1997/ /2000 Source: CRC (2007) State of the countryside Report 2007

Top ten districts with greatest in migration in 2003/ /2005 Source: CRC (2007) State of the Countryside 2007

Why do city dwellers move to the countryside? Ingrained love of English countryside The innate morality of the countryside? A better place to raise children? A place of “real” community? Why choose? Have both- work in the city, live in the country.

Impacts on equity: housing House prices in rural areas (particularly very scenic places) are unaffordable to those who work in the rural economy. In Padstow (Cornwall) the average price of a house is £334,385 ($661,000 or ¥71,000,000). Key workers can neither buy nor rent- who provides services?

Average house prices and change in average house prices Source: CRC (2007) State of the countryside 2007

Impacts on equity: transport Continued reduction in service outlets (public and private) which in turn reduces accessibility. Those without cars are seriously disadvantaged. Car use is critical to daily rural life

Percentage of households within “reasonable” reach of services in 2007 Source: CRC (2007) State of the Countryside 2007

Rural futures: drivers for change Rural futures demographyprosperitymobility ICT availability Sectors with +/- demand Service quality

Rural futures: impact on services Rural futures Local authorities as co-ordinators Integration of services Reliance on Voluntary & community sectors active older people but will they help? Reduction of services in small places ICT based services

Rural futures What rural futures do we want? Can we build prosperous and sustainable places based on economic and social capital of older people?