Migration in rural England Jane Atterton Lecturer in Rural Development Centre for Rural Economy Newcastle University

Presentation Outline Rural England – Population – Population age structure – Migration The impacts of migration Rural in-migrants and businesses Businesses in rural England Concluding comments

Rural England – Population Total population of England approx million (2001) 19.3% (approx. 9.5 million) live in rural England (2001) Settlements with 10,000 people or less are defined as rural

Rural England – Population Age Structure Figure 1: Age profile (2005)

Figure 2: Median age (2001 and 2004) Rural England – Population Age Structure (cont.)

Rural England – Migration Rural areas are ageing faster in England than urban areas This is mainly due to selective migration processes – Out-migration of young people – In-migration of older people (working age and retired) – Process known as counterurbanisation (evident since the 1970s) – 2004/05 net inward migration to rural areas was 75,000

Rural England – Migration (cont.) The negative impacts of counterurbanisation are often emphasised, for example: – increased demand for housing and restricted supply leading to house price increases; – more commuting leads to a decline in service provision and a leakage of income, skills, knowledge etc. from the local area; – threat to community cohesion.

Rural England – Migration (cont.) But in-migrants also bring benefits: –New job creation –Improved human capital New business start-ups, higher levels of self-employment and an increase in home working –Wealth, extra-local networks and experience Potential to ‘use’ older in-migrants much more effectively

Businesses in rural England ABAgriculture; Forestry and fishing CEMining and quarrying; Electricity, gas and water supply DManufacturing FConstruction GWholesale, retail and repairs HHotels and restaurants ITransport, storage and communication JFinancial intermediation KReal estate, renting and business activities LOPublic administration; Other community, social and personal services MN N Education; Health and social work Figure 3: Business stock profile, 2004 (VAT registrations and deregistrations)

Industrial classR-80R-50 Signif. Rural Other Urban Large UrbanMajor UrbanEngland Agriculture; Forestry and fishing Mining and quarrying; Electricity, gas and water supply Manufacturing Construction Wholesale, retail and repairs Hotels and restaurants Transport, storage and communication Financial intermediation Real estate, renting and business activities Public administration; Other community, social and personal services Education; Health and social work Change (number of businesses)20,25022,71528,90522,25519,15073,630186,905 Businesses in rural England (cont.) Figure 3: % change in business stock by sector, (VAT registrations and deregistrations)

The ‘knowledge economy’ The ‘creative class’ (Florida 2002) Rural areas have a higher proportion of ‘knowledge intensive business services’ than urban areas Implications?

Concluding comments There are some key assumptions in regional economic development in the UK affecting the development of rural areas, including that: –cities drive growth; rural economies are dominated by farming; the countryside must be strictly protected from development The negative impacts of counterurbanisation are usually emphasised Older people tend to be seen as a burden on rural communities But more recently in-migrants seen as a more positive force in driving rural development (e.g. in starting up businesses); but limited evidence that older people are being seen as such Planning system and development strategies/policies need to make more appropriate, positive responses to the influx of migrants into rural England