Population Change in Rural Areas

Population change in rural area is influenced by proximity to urban areas and their influence. Remote rural populations in the UK are in decline, whereas accessible rural-urban fringe areas are expanding.

Consequences of decline:

• elderly and socio-economically disadvantaged are polarised
• houses are often bought as second homes leading to ghost-towns
• negative multiplier effect - spiral of decline - deprivation sets in - people become trapped and cannot relocate

Consequences of expansion:

• new build creates housing local people cannot afford
• new famillies have two or more vehicles - increase traffic flow and congestion
• dormitory villages with little or no activity during the day
• conflict between established village community and newcomers
• maintaining village/rural identity becomes an issue

Check out this document for further data and projections on Rural Population Change

http://www.rerc.ac.uk/findings/documents_demography/D9RuralEng_Ch_Projns1991_2028.pdf