Tyne & Wear
Main towns: Tyne and Wear consists of the five metropolitan boroughs, which include North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Gateshead. The main Cities are Newcastle and Sunderland.
Demographics: The population is 96.8 per cent white British. The area’s minority ethnic communities originate primarily from Pakistan and Bangladesh but there are also well-established Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Arab, and Chinese communities.
Higher than average numbers of pensioners live alone. The north-east in general has the highest percentage of the population who smoke and one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the country. There remain large pockets of deprivation with high levels of social exclusion and crime. The indices of multiple deprivation indicate that 45 per cent of wards within the Tyne and Wear area fall within the worst 10 per cent nationally.
Population: The population is estimated at 1,089,400. People in Tyne and Wear live at an average density of 20.4 persons per hectare, compared with a provisional figure of 3.2 for England & Wales as a whole. South Tyneside was the most densely populated district (24.6 persons per hectare) and Gateshead the least densely populated (13.9).
The number of people has decreased by 5.4 per cent since 1981. This change is believed to be the result of less people moving into the area, although there were slightly more births than deaths.
Places of Interest: The Angel of the North situated in Gateshead is one of the most famous landmarks in the UK. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is another well know landmark. The county of Tyne and Wear is around the estuaries of the River Tyne and River Wear, offering stunning views and walks. However the area has undergone significant regeneration creating new leisure, arts and cultural venues. Tyne and Wear has award winning beaches, vibrant cities, museums, galleries, interesting attractions, sporting facilities and entertainments.
In Blandford Square, Newcastle, is Discovery Museum, an interactive experience for all. The Life Centre in Times Square is a good place to visit and the Hancock Museum is the north east's premier natural science museum.
House/Flat Prices: The average property price today, including flats and houses, is £173,000.
In 2003 it was around £91,000.
Planning issues: Tyneside leaders are preparing to undertake a record-breaking £1bn investment scheme. At North Tyneside in particular, there are proposals to spend millions of pounds on housing and construction over the next five years.