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Key Fact and Figures – Pennine Lancashire
August 2011

POPULATION

Pennine Lancashire has a population of 521,100. The latest 2010 ONS estimates showed that Blackburn with Darwen (140,000), RibbleValley(58,000) and Rossendale (67,400) have increased in size from 2009. Pennine Lancashire has one of the youngest populations in the UK, where 32.5% of the population are under the age of 24. With a future aging national population and impacts from globalisation, this young population is a great asset to businesses looking to invest in the workforce of tomorrow.

Pennine Lancashire has a diverse population, with 11% from BME backgrounds (dominantly South Asian). A diverse workforce increases productivity, creativity, language skills, new attitudes and encourages new processes.

HOUSING

Pennine Lancashire, as at 2008, had 212,000 households. It is projected to increase to 244,000 by 2033. The cost of Pennine Lancashire houses fell by -6.2% in March 2011 to £118,849. Further price declines are expected across Pennine Lancashire in 2011 in line with national and regional expectations. Pennine Lancashire’s 20 mile proximity toMediaCityand investment into Next Generation Broadband Access can offer many relocating staff with the perfect countryside home or office hub out of the busy city centre.

The construction sector has been badly affected over the last 2 years with the loss of public investment and reduction in lending to developers. However, it is predicted that private house building will grow over the next five years, fuelled by the changes in national policy and demand for more homes.

SECTORS

Pennine Lancashire retains a large and diverse economic base including the representation of some well known and respected national and international companies. Overall in 2010, there were over 15,800 VAT/PAYE registered enterprises.

There is a large strong manufacturing cluster within Pennine Lancashire with 24% of all employees in comparison to the regional (11%) and national average (9%). 24% of all employees within manufacturing work within the high value aerospace sector. This includes both military and civilian aerospace technology and includes two prime companies of BAE Systems and Rolls Royce. Both these primes support a large sophisticated supply chain of SMEs (over 1,700 in manufacturing within Pennine Lancashire alone). This large niche cluster of high value aerospace provides a niche supplier to the rest of the world befitting both the northern as well as the national economy.

Recently, within Pennine Lancashire, there has been positive sector growth within Business and Professional Services. Between 2008 and 2010, there has been a 16% increase in professional, scientific and technical roles with a further 4% increase in manufacturing jobs. This presents opportunities for manu-servicing and support industries to base within the area.

TRANSPORT

Pennine Lancashire is well connected to the motorway network. Manchester and Media City are only 20 miles away and Pennine Lancashire is less than an hour’s journey from airports in both Leeds and Blackpool.

TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

Pennine Lancashire is fortunate to possess a highly attractive natural environment, including the open countryside it is set within. The Pennine Lancashire Adrenaline Gateway offers outdoor sports and the area boasts many historical buildings from the early industrial revolution.

The impacts from globalisation, rising wealth from the BRIC countries and appetite for Western culture will help attract international tourists. The outdoor terrain within Pennine Lancashire is also attractive to British holidaymakers, with less travelling abroad due to the weakening of the pound.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OPPORTUNITIES

There is potential for growth in Pennine Lancashire for wind farms, solar panels and diversified employment within the construction sector. The area receives consistently high wind speeds with large areas of upland and river courses. A number of windfarms already exist, with Rossendale’s Scout Moor windfarm being the largest in England.

Further opportunities exist through Shale gas extraction, identified through Cuadrilla Resource. Its surveys have identified 200trillion cubic feet of gas within Lancashire, equivalent to 56 years’ worth of imports.

Download the latest quarterly intelligence report on Pennine Lancashire here:
2011.08 August Pennine Lancashire Intelligence Report

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