Fast facts for journalists

South Lakeland - the district

Geography

• South Lakeland covers an area of 600 square miles including a variety of landscape features mountains, fells, lakes, tarns, valleys, pastureland, estuary and coastline.
  
• There are four main urban areas Kendal, Ulverston, Windermere and Grange-over-Sands.
  
• Large parts of the district fall within two national parks the Lake District National Park (49% of the land area) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park (14%).
  
• The district is divided into 45 electoral wards

Population

• The resident population is 103,800 (June 2009).but this is increased considerably by national and international visitors.
  
• 32% of the population is aged over 60 compared with the national average of 22%
  

• In June 2009 the 60-64 year old age range has the highest number of residents.. Nationally, the most common age range is 40-44 years old..

• In 2006 21.3% of the South Lakeland population were retired. However, using more recent data, in June 2009 27.7% of South Lakeland population were over 65 (men), and over 60 (women). This is compared to 19.3% for England.

• The district has low numbers of resident ethnic minority groups although this is increased by visitors to the area.  In June 2007, 0.7% were Mixed Race, 0.8% Asian or Asian British, 0.4% Black or Black British, and 0.6% Chinese or Other Ethnic Group. This is 2.5% altogether, compared to 11.7% nationally.

• There was a population gain of 1,400 in South Lakeland between June 2001 and June 2009. In this time period there has been a reduction in 15-30 year olds of 600. There has been a more noticeable drop in 30-45 year olds of 2,800.  

Employment

• South Lakeland has one of the lowest 'headline unemployment' statistics in the country 1.1% in January 2004. (Resident-based claimant count). However, research shows that the true level of unemployment is far in excess of the published figures 5.4% as opposed to 1.5% in January 2002 for South Lakeland (Sheffield Hallam University, 'The Real Level of Unemployment, 2002')

• In October 2010 1.2% of the working age population (aged 16-64 male, 16-59 female) were Job Seeker Allowance Claimants in South Lakeland. This is compared to 3.5% for the UK as a whole. 

•  In 2010 the average wage for South Lakeland was £24,928 per year. This was approximately £2000 lower than the national average.
  
  
• The 2006 SLDC housing needs survey shows then following regarding household incomes: 

• Since 1997, 2,971 jobs have been lost to the South Lakeland economy (at December 2003). The majority of these have been from larger companies such as Axa Insurance, Scottish provident, K Shoes and GSK.

Housing

• In April 2009, the district had 51,527 dwellings – 91.5% were Owner Occupied / Private Rented Dwelling stock, 6.2% were Local Authority Dwelling Stock and 2.3% were Registered Social Landlord Dwelling Stock. . 
• The average property price in South Lakeland is £242,745 (third quarterly of 2010).

• The average property price has increased by 15.6% in the last six years.

• There was a population gain of 1,400 in South Lakeland between June 2001 and June 2009. In this time period there has been a reduction in 15-30 year olds of 600. There has been a more noticeable drop in 30-45 year olds of 2,800.   

• In 2010 the council own 3,187 dwellings. Since 2004, 133 have been lost to Right to Buy. This is only a 4% loss of dwellings since 2004. Since 1 April 2004 the management and maintenance of these properties has been carried out by South Lakes Housing, a not-for-profit organisation.
  
  
• There are currently 3,320 applicants on the Housing Register. This is a 16% increase since 2004.
  
  
• According to current council tax records there are 4,431 dwellings classed as second/holiday homes in South Lakeland. This is a 21% rise since 2004*, and represents 8.6% of the total dwellings in the district.
  
  

• In 2009/2010 there were 135 homeless presentations which resulted in 34 applicants being accepted. The reason for the substantial reduction is the authority is now making every effort to prevent homelessness whenever possible through the assistance of Homeless prevention Officers and the use of the Private Rented sector if this is a practical alternative.

• The main reasons for homelessness are the ending of a private tenancy, request to leave by friends or relations and violence or threats of violence from partners.
  

• More facts about the district
  
• Fast facts - the council