Devon
Main towns: The area administered by Devon County Council does not include Plymouth or Torbay, which are both unitary authorities. The main towns are Exeter, Torquay, Torridge, South Hams, Teignbridge, Paignton and Brixham.
Demographics: Because the county is such a popular retirement spot, the proportion of the population aged over 50 stands at 42% as opposed to the national average of 34%.
Whilst the population as a whole has been increasing in recent years, the number of people aged between 20 and 24 has decreased over the last twenty years and the county is experiencing declining birth rates.
The county’s black and minority ethnic population is just 1.13% of the total population.
Economic performance differs across the county. Employment levels are high but many of the county’s jobs are low paid, part time and seasonal. As such, average full time earnings are approximately 15% below the national average. The county’s productivity figure is only 78% of the national average but Exeter’s productivity figure is 121% of the national average.
Primary industries in the county are tourism, agriculture, food and drink, marine and environmental technologies and creative industries.
Academic performance and skills levels exceed the national average but vary significantly across the county. For instance, 29% of Exeter’s population is educated to NVQ Level 4, compared to Torridge, where the figure stands at 17.5%.
Population: Devon has an estimated population of just over 1m people, but because the county is so large, it is one of the most sparsely populated in the country.
Approximately 16% of the population live in the city of Exeter, while the rest of the population is spread across 28 towns and 400 parishes. The population is increased significantly, particularly during summer, by the 8million tourists and visitors who visit the county every year. The resident population is growing at over twice the national average at a rate of approximately 5000 people per year.
Places of Interest: Devon is the only county in England with two separate coastlines and over a third of the county’s landscape is subject to special protection. This includes the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, which covers East Devon, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. A largely rural county, Devon offers vast countryside, golden beaches, historic fishing towns, market villages and bustling towns. Devon is a hotspot for water sport enthusiasts, perfect for surfing, body boarding, wind-surfing,snorkelling and scuba diving.
House/Flat Prices: Devon’s popularity as a place to live has contributed heavily to an increase in house prices. Between 1999 and 2004 there was a 131% increase in Devon house prices, compared to a national average of 84%. Average house prices currently stand at nearly ten times the average wage in Devon, which means that there is a lack of affordable housing. The average property price in Devon today, including houses and flats, is £270,000. The price five years ago, in February 2004, was £170,000.
Planning issues: Devon County Council will submit plans shortly to turn a conservation area into a park and ride. The county plans to build the car park over the Alphin
Brook Conservation Area. The move has angered residents because the area has conservation status. The park and ride is part of a £35m scheme to reduce congestion in Exeter.
Other plans include increasing outbound lanes from the city and creating more bus lanes.