East Staffordshire is a mix of urban and rural areas covering almost 39,000 hectares.

The 2001 Census found there were 103,770 people living in the Borough with 48,400 in Burton upon Trent and 12,023 in Uttoxeter.

The 2006 Mid Year Population Estimate (MYPE) suggests the population is now around 107,700, which represents a growth of 3.8% since the 2001 Census, and it is forecast to rise to 121,200 by 2029. The gender divide is evenly split with females accounting for 50.7% of the population in 2006.

The local population is ageing, 21.9% are now aged 60 and over (2006 MYPE).

The Census revealed a relatively high Black & Minority Ethnic population of 6.1%. This figure will have increased with the recent expansion of the EU. Experimental statistics from the ONS show the BME population of the Borough to be 7.1% in 2004.

There were 42,717 households with residents in East Staffordshire at the time of the Census. According to the latest Register of Electors there are 44,760 properties with residents in 2007, which represents a 4.8% increase since the Census.

Almost a third of households live in semi-detached properties (32.8%) with almost a further third (31.7%) in detached housing, which is above the national average. Just over a quarter (25.8%) live in terraced housing (2001 Census).

27.7% of households are single person only and 23.6% are all pensioner households (2001 Census).

23.3% of East Staffordshire households do not have access to a car (2001 Census).

15.3% of households in East Staffordshire have no central heating, almost double the national average (2001 Census).

Across the country the price of property is a major issue affecting access to housing. East Staffordshire is no different and the average property price in October to December 2006 was £159,369. Detached properties during this period sold for an average of £238,487, with semi detached priced at £148,093 and terraced properties sold for £107,210 on average.

The 2001 Census found 17.1% of East Staffordshire residents are living with a limiting long-term illness and 7.9% defined their general health as ‘not good’.

10.0% of the Borough’s population provide unpaid care (2001 Census).

Driving a car or van is the most common means of travelling to work and was used by 61.8% at the time of the 2001 Census, which is above the national average. However, a further 15.1% walk or cycle which is also above the national average.

Economic activity is high with 80.5% of working age residents (16-59/64 years) economically active during the period April 2006 to March 2007. This is above the England and Wales average of 78.4% (Annual Population Survey).

The median gross annual earnings for those working in East Staffordshire are £21,754 according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2007). This is below the national average (£24,204). Residents of the Borough (as opposed to those who work in the Borough) have slightly lower median gross annual earnings of £21,624.

Managers & Senior Officials form the largest occupational group, accounting for 15.1% of 16 to 74 year olds working in the Borough. This equates to the national average. Elementary workers, which include for example porters and cleaners, make up the second largest group. At 14.7% this is significantly above the national average (11.9%) for this traditionally lower paid sector (2001 Census).

Latest figures reveal there are 3,740 VAT registered businesses in East Staffordshire (Nomis 2006).

Distribution, Hotels and Catering is the most dominant sector in terms of the number of business units in the Borough, accounting for 30.9% (ABI 2006).

Manufacturing has traditionally been the largest employment sector but this has been overtaken in recent years by the Distribution, Hotels and Catering sector, which employed 23.5% of the 55,500 people working in East Staffordshire in 2006.

Full time employment continues to dominate accounting for 70.9% of all employees (ABI 2006).

In January 2008, East Staffordshire had an unemployment rate of 1.4%, which is below the England and Wales average of 2.2%. However, there are pockets of higher unemployment, particularly Burton ward where unemployment is estimated to be 3.5%.

Youth unemployment is an issue in the Borough and continues to be high with 32.0% of all unemployed claimants aged under 25. This is above the England and Wales average (30.8%). However, long-term unemployment (over 12 months) in East Staffordshire accounts for only 7.2% of unemployed residents, which is well below the England and Wales average (14.2%).

East Staffordshire’s industrial and office units averaged £4.71 and £9.92 per sq ft respectively in the period April to September 2007.

Educational achievement has improved over time and in 2007 around 68% of East Staffordshire pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A-C, which is above the national average (62%). 53% of Borough pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at grades A-C that included Maths and English - again this is above the national average (47%). However, these figures vary significantly from school to school.

The positive images do mask some areas of concern. For example, research reveals around 25% of East Staffordshire’s working population have low or very low literacy or numeracy skills (Basic Skills Agency 2001).

Also, the 2001 Census found that 31.8% of Borough residents have no qualifications, which is above the national average (29.1%) and just 16.0% have a degree level qualification, which is below the national average (19.8%).

Issues were also highlighted by the Indices of Deprivation 2007, which revealed that East Staffordshire has two Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs are areas of between 1,000 and 3,000 people) in the top 10% most deprived areas in the country. These are located within Eton Park and Shobnall wards.

The Indices of Deprivation 2007 also found:

• Income deprivation is an issue within parts of Anglesey and Shobnall wards - these contain two LSOAs within the top 10% most income deprived in England;
• Employment deprivation is an issue in particular areas of Eton Park and Stapenhill - within these wards there are two LSOAs that are in the top 10% most employment deprived in England;
• Education deprivation is an issue in 5 LSOAs with fall within the top 10% most deprived areas of the country. These LSOAs are located within Stapenhill, Eton Park, Shobnall and Winshill;
• There are 7 LSOAs within the top 10% most deprived in England in terms of barriers to housing and key local services. In contrast to the other domains this type of deprivation is more typically felt outside of the Burton upon Trent area, in the more rural wards.
• There is one LSOA that appears in the top 10% most deprived in the country for crime - this covers Burton ward.
• There are 14 LSOAs in the top 10% most deprived in the country for the Living Environment domain, which looks at poor housing and air quality. These areas are located within Anglesey, Burton, Shobnall, Eton Park, Stapenhill and Horninglow wards. Of these 14 LSOAs 12 are actually within the top 5% most deprived for the living environment domain.

The British Crime Survey found during the period April 2006 to March 2007 that violence against the person at 22 offences per 1,000 population is above the national average of 19. This represents 2,365 offences, which is a 1% increase on the previous 12 month period. Theft from a vehicle was recorded at a 6 offences per 1,000 population. This is below the national average of 9 offences.

Sources of information:

2001 Census Area Statistics

Annual Business Inquiry (ABI 2006

Instaffs Property Market Trends

Basic Skills Agency

NOMIS Annual Population Survey (2006)

Office for National Statistics (ONS)

British Crime Survey

For more information on what the Census can tell you about your local area, visit the Neighbourhood Statistics web site at http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/ or the Staffordshire Research and Information Network on the Staffordshire County Council web site at www.staffordshire.gov.uk

Alternatively, if you cannot locate the information you want, for further help on research and statistics in the East Staffordshire area, contact the Programmes and Information Team by phoning

01283 508224