Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Baseline Information
Population
15.3.8 In 2008, the mid year estimate of population of Clackmannanshire was 50,500; approximately
1% of the national population 1 , spread over approximately 22,624 households 2 . The
population of the wider area comprising Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Fife and Falkirk Council
areas was approximately 652,400 in the same year.
15.3.9 Between 2007 and 2008, the population of Clackmannanshire grew by approximately 1.2%,
which was higher than the Scottish average of 0.5% increase, and the 4 th highest increase in
Scotland 3 . The neighbouring authorities of Perth and Kinross and Falkirk also had higher than
average increases. Trends for the future indicate that while the Scottish population may
increase by 7% up to 2033, Clackmannanshire could see a 24% increase in population – the
3 rd largest predicted increase after East Lothian and Perth and Kinross 4 .
15.3.10 The area of Clackmannanshire is 159km 2 , with an average density of 318 people per km 2 in
2008. This was approximately 5 times higher than Scotland as a whole (66 people per km 2 ).
Across the wider regional scale (Stirling, Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire) the average
density was 161 people per km 2 .
15.3.11 In 2009, the proportion of children (under 16s) was higher in the Clackmannanshire council
area (18.8%) than in Scotland (17.6%) 5 . In the wider regional area, 18.1% of the population
was under 16. The proportion of those aged 65 and over in Clackmannanshire (15.6%) was
lower than Scotland as a whole (16.7%) and in the wider regional area (16.9%).
15.3.12 This indicates that Clackmannanshire has a growing population, with a high proportion of
children, and this population will require sources of energy and jobs such as the proposed
development can create.
15.3.13 Information for the Clackmannan CAS ward was only gathered for the 2001 census. In this
census, the population (2,867) was approximately 6% of the Clackmannanshire population
(48,077). A lower percentage of the population was of working age (61.4%) compared to the
Clackmannanshire population (62.1%) 6 . Information on population for the Ochil Scottish
Parliamentary Constituency (Local Area) was not available.
Employment and Economy
15.3.14 Between October 2008 and September 2009, 71% of working age people in
Clackmannanshire were in employment, compared to 74.3% in Scotland. 8% of economically
active people in Clackmannanshire were unemployed, compared to 6.6% in Scotland 7 .
15.3.15 In May 2010 the Ochil constituency had a claimant unemployment rate of 4.5% (number of
claimants of Job Seekers Allowance as a proportion of the resident working age) compared to
4.2% in Scotland. Clackmannanshire’s rate was slightly higher than the national and regional
rate, at 5.3%, and the rate in the Clackmannan CSA Ward was 6.6%. This suggests that
although regionally (on a constituency basis) unemployment was similar to Scotland as a
whole, the council area has comparatively high unemployment, and the proposed wind energy
November 2010 Chapter 15 Page 4
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