Published on:
28
July 2008
News that Clackmannanshire's population is estimated to have reached a new all time high is being welcomed by the Council.
There were 49,900 people living in Clackmannanshire in June last year, according to an official estimate published this week, 1000 more than the previous year. This increase of 2% is the highest population increase of any local authority area in Scotland.
Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven has reported that the mid-2007 population estimates showed a 0.5% increase for Scotland as a whole.
Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio holder, said: "Clackmannanshire, along with the rest of Scotland, suffered from a population decline in the 1990s. Thankfully we turned that corner a few years ago and this latest, incredibly positive, population estimate shows that Clackmannanshire is well and truly open for business. I am delighted that 1000 new people have discovered the joy of living in Clackmannanshire."
One of the key areas that is influencing population levels in Clackmannanshire is the amount of new housing developments. A total of 450 new homes were built in 2006 and a further 384 homes were built in 2007. This compares with 187 homes in the year 2000. In 2000/01 Clackmannanshire had the lowest rate of new build housing completions in Scotland while in 2006/07 we had the highest rate in Scotland.
The county's vastly improved transport links also make Clackmannanshire a more attractive place for new residents. The Alloa rail line re-opened earlier this year and the Clackmannanshire Bridge is on schedule to open later this year, giving the county direct access to central Scotland's motorway network.
Director of Development and Environmental Services Garry Dallas said: "Our planning service has experienced a development boom in the past few years and while other parts of Scotland are experiencing a slow down in the housing market, Clackmannanshire continues to grow. Clearly, increased expenditure in the local economy is good news for local retail and service traders."
Garry went on to say that with work ongoing on three new secondary schools and a new hospital and with plans being prepared for a new college, then the signs for the county's development continue to look very encouraging, despite the recent slow down in the housing market nationally.
Migration - the majority from the rest of the UK - accounts for most of the population increase.
A figure of 695 net migration was reported for 2006/2007. This compares to 191 for 2005/2006. Of the 695 migrants, the vast majority - 414 - moved to Clackmannanshire from elsewhere in Scotland. 190 came from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while 91 came from overseas.
Rosa Macpherson, the Council's Senior Adult Education worker said: "Good news travels fast and increasingly the Wee County's reputation for providing quality language provision for both children and adults continues to attract people from overseas, particularly our neighbours in the EU. The benefits their skills bring to Clackmannanshire coupled with the support they receive makes it a win-win situation for everyone. Additionally, the Council's pivotal role in helping establish the Association for Migrant Integration ensures that cultural, social as well as educational integration is paramount."
There were 551 births and 473 deaths recorded for Clackmannanshire between 2006 and 2007, which gives a net population increase of 78 as a result of births and deaths.