Strategic Housing Market Assessment - North Devon District Council

SHMA: Torridge and North Devon Update
• for families: the small increase in the requirement for family housing is
complicated by the projected large increase in lone parent households
who have incomes typically around one third of the average. The
implication of a substantial increase in the requirement for family housing
affordable to lone parents is clear.
Internal migration and mobility
2.70 A key component of demographic change is internal migration which is
included in population projections using trend-based analysis, and is
measurable through ONS ‘Components of Population Change’ tables.
Although 2011 data will be required to confirm this, it is very likely that the
effect of internal migration has been overestimated for Torridge but
underestimated for North Devon.
2.71 Both districts have continued to gain population through migration internal to
England. A review of the 20 year trend between 1991 and 2011 identifies
average annual net gains of 660 people for North Devon and 820 for Torridge,
a total of 1,480. Net migration was remarkably stable between 1991/92 and
1995/96 then began to vary with peaks occurring between 1999 and 2005.
2.72 Not surprisingly, most internal and cross-regional migration takes place within
the South West but there are significant population exchanges with the
London, South East, East and West Midlands regions.
2.73 The net effect has been strong population gain from the London, the South
East and East regions and the main losses to elsewhere in the South West
especially to Cornwall, Plymouth, Mid and West Devon.
2.74 The limited data by age suggests that families with younger and older children
are being attracted to the area, and to a lesser extent those aged 45-64.
Whilst those aged 65+ continue to be attracted to the area, there is no
evidence of high levels of in-migration at retirement. In contrast, there is a loss
of those aged 25-44 which may reflect movement for employment.
2.75 In terms of the implications for the housing market, what is implied here is that
families with children are being attracted to the area. This trend places
additional pressure on the demand for family housing, especially in the home
ownership sector. Net gains from older age groups are likely to place
additional pressure on the demand for smaller homes, especially in the home
ownership sector. The loss of younger people, typically without children, are
leaving may well be for economic reasons in search of employment.
Commuting
2.76 Understanding such patterns is constrained by the limited data available. In
2001, 2,000 more people travelled to work outside the area than travelled in
but this masks different patterns between the 2 districts with 1,300 more
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