Surrey
Main towns: Guildford is the biggest town with 66,773, while Woking is the next
largest with a population of 62,796. Other large towns include Ewell, Camberley, Ashford, Redhill,
Epsom and Farnham.
Demographics: The majority of people living in Surrey (95 per cent) are white
with 89 per cent classifying themselves as 'white British'. People from other ethnic groups comprise
five per cent of the population, with the largest groups being Indian (one per cent), Pakistani (0.6
per cent) and Chinese (0.5 per cent). Deprivation levels are low in Surrey. According to the 2007
Indices of Multiple Deprivation the county is the third least deprived local authority area in
England and Wales. There are some relatively disadvantaged communities in parts of Woking,
Guildford, Farnham and Camberley. However, most Surrey residents enjoy a good quality of life with
low levels of crime and good life expectancy.
Population: Surrey has a population of 1.1 million people. Overall population
density is 650 people per square kilometre exceeding both the national (384) and regional (425)
averages. Population is concentrated in towns such as Guildford, Woking, Staines, Camberley and
Epsom with 85 per cent of the population living in 15 per cent of the land area.This means that
population density in the rest of the county is lower, with many people living in rural communities.
Surrey’s population has an increasingly ageing profile, with the percentage of people in the 60 to
74 age range expected to increase by a third by 2029, leading to increased pressure on health and
social care services. The Surrey section of the M25 is one of the most heavily used stretches of
motorway in Europe and there are more cars per mile of road in Surrey than in any other shire county
in England.
Places of Interest: Despite its proximity to London, Surrey is essentially
rural with three quarters of its area being designated as green belt or Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. Famous country houses include Clandon Park, an 18th century mansion in West Clandon.
Hatchlands Park is nearby in East Clandon, and was built in 1758.
The county is linked to the sea by the River Wey. Shalford Mill is an 18th century water-mill on the
River Tillingbourne.
House/Flat Prices: The average property price today, including flats and houses,
is £418,144.
In 2003 it was around £253,500.
Planning issues: The rising cost of property in Surrey has created great demand.
Investors regularly appeal for garden plots with planning permission for development. Surrey Waste
Management has formally submitted plans to Surrey County Council’s Planning Authority to build an
energy-from-waste (EfW) facility in Capel.