Cornish Social & Economic Research Group
» What CoSERG Thinks » Press releases » Cornwall, population, housing and sustainability ~ a reality check
Two related items of news on population growth and house building appeared last week. The Office for National Statistics suggested that the UK population would rise dramatically by 14% over the next 20 years (8.7 million more than the current 60.3), which could mean the UK becoming ‘an environmental disaster area’ according to the Optimum Population Trust. While outlining plans to encourage more house building the Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, said "Some of them [councils] say they don't want more homes in their area, and the problem with that argument is that it's just not fair - every other area needs to do its bit."
Latest estimates for Cornwall suggest an increase of 126 thousand people between 2004 and 2029 (517 to 643 thousand), a rise of 24%. Such an increase was well above the UK average, placing Cornwall as third out of 41 county areas in England.
Commenting on the reports, CoSERG indicated the need for a real debate over population policy. “For the Minister to talk of fairness when Cornwall has experienced above average growth in the past and is expected to accept unsustainable rates in the future is unrealistic. It was simply incredible to suggest that Cornwall or any other area could grow indefinitely, particularly in the context of UK citizens already using up to three planets worth of resources and the need for action to address climate change."
See News here:
Office for National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp
See News here: 3m extra homes 'still not enough' BBC 26 October 2007