Functional Economic Market
Areas and Economic Linkages
in the South West
Final Report
July 2010
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. i
1: Introduction and Objectives ...............................................................................................1
2: Functional Economic Market Areas...................................................................................6
3: Existing Knowledge on Functional Economic Market Areas ........................................14
4: The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool ...............................................................................29
5: Initial analysis of the spatial dynamics of the South West............................................39
6: Future influences on Functional Economic Market Areas ............................................87
Annex A: Methodology ........................................................................................................ A-1
Annex B: Existing Knowledge on Functional Economic Market Areas ......................... B-1
Annex C: Mapping against LEA core themes ................................................................... C-1
Annex D: Themes and Layers............................................................................................. D-1
Annex E: Guidance Manual................................................................................................. E-1
Annex A: Methodology ........................................................................................................ A-1
Annex B: Existing Knowledge on Functional Economic Market Areas ......................... B-1
Annex C: Mapping against LEA core themes ................................................................... C-1
Annex D: Themes and Layers............................................................................................. D-1
Annex E: Guidance Manual................................................................................................. E-1
Contact:
Matt Sales
Tel:
Approved by:
Gareth Jones
Date:
020 7307 7170
email:
[email protected]
9July 2010
Director
www.sqw.co.uk
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Executive Summary
Purpose of the Project
1.
The purpose of this project is to investigate functional economic market areas (FEMAs) in the
South West, which play an important role in Local Economic Assessments (LEAs). A core
objective of LEAs is to, “identify the economic linkages between the area assessed and the
wider economy” (CLG guidance 1). This project was commissioned to develop a shared
evidence base to help to identify FEMAs and other spatial economic linkages in the South
West, to support partners responsible for developing LEAs and those involved in policy and
strategy making at other geographical levels.
2.
The purpose of the project has not been to arrive at a single set of defined FEMA boundaries
across the region. Rather the project has explored functional geographies of different themes
that influence economic development, for example labour markets and retail catchments,
gathering appropriate indicators to evidence the themes.
3.
There are three main outputs of the research:
•
an interactive Spatial Economic Analysis Tool (based on a GIS package) to enable
stakeholders to identify FEMAs
•
a guidance manual for using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
•
this final report which sets out the work that has been undertaken and includes some
analysis of the spatial dynamics of the region. A springboard from which users of the
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool can undertake their own analysis.
4.
The project has sought to develop a jointly owned means of understanding the economic
linkages between the South West’s local authority administrative areas and the wider
economy. The research has involved a literature review of previous regional analysis of
economic links and functional geographies; consultations with upper tier authorities and
regional organisations to understand the needs of future users; a workshop in April 2010 to
which all stakeholders were invited to help design the specification of the project outputs;
data collection and mapping in the Tool; and final reporting.
5.
A key aspect of this project has been to identify and respond to the requirements of the
stakeholders who will be the end users of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool. A broad
consultation programme has been undertaken, and the table below summarises stakeholders’
requirements for the project outputs.
1
Department of Communities and Local Government, Local Economic Assessments: Consultation on Draft
Statutory Guidance, December 2009
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Table 1: Ways in which the project will support preparation of Local Economic Assessments and policy
and strategy making at other geographical levels
Issue
Detail
Help inform joint working
•
Improve shared understanding of the region and sub-regions, to
enable policy development
•
Provide justification for (or against) partnership areas
•
Support basis for joint working between local authorities and with
their partners
•
Create a shared evidence base
Provide evidence to inform a consistent
approach
•
Provide evidence which can be used in a variety of ways at
different geographical scales
Meet requirements in national guidance
•
Add robustness to the evidence base
•
Enhance mapping to aid interpretation of data
•
Development of LEAs, and in some cases economic
development and planning strategies
•
Initial work for Regional Strategy
•
Unspecific investment decisions
•
Explore variety of issues related to FEMAs
•
However, there was no common clear set of region-wide ‘big
issues’ identified
•
Some expectations beyond the scope of the project included
comparison with other regions/ places
•
Potentially useful to help identify LEPs
Support policy development
Inform understanding of FEMAs and
geographic and economic relationships
Source: SQW Consulting
Functional Economic Market Areas
6.
The geography of economic activity is increasingly complicated. People often live, work and
undertake leisure activities in different administrative areas and links for business and people
can be truly global. There is a strong argument that economic analysis is best undertaken at
the spatial level at which the market operates. This can support better policy making, by
allowing consideration of the full costs and benefits of policies and ensuring that wider
barriers and opportunities are considered. It can also help to reduce co-ordination failures and
ensure that policies support wider interests.
7.
Understanding FEMAs helps to understand the roles of different places and can provide a
common evidence base and shared understanding of the nature, extent and distribution of
economic activity.
8.
There is no universally agreed approach to defining FEMAs and no definitive map of
FEMAs. They vary in size and boundary, depending on the issue under consideration (e.g.
labour market, retail catchments) and the criteria used to define them.
9.
CLG has defined FEMAs as, “the area over which the local economy and its key markets
operate” 2. The LEA guidance also states that, “functional economic market areas are spatial
areas that can be mapped by a combination of the key indicators of economic activity and
2
Department of Communities and Local Government, Functional Economic Market Areas: An economic note,
February 2010.
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across areas”. FEMAs reflect the real world in which the economy operates, extending
beyond the administrative area level (districts, unitary authorities, county or regional
boundaries) at which economic development policy is generally made.
Existing Knowledge on FEMAs in the South West
10.
There has been previous analysis of functional market areas in the South West. The
assessments undertaken have been from a regional and sub-regional perspective, to help
inform regional planning and regional economic strategy. The previous FEMA work
considers:
•
Sub-regions
•
Economic activity zones
•
Character areas
•
Retail Catchment Areas
•
Housing Market Areas (HMAs).
11.
Existing knowledge on FEMAs in the South West includes the identification of three subregional spatial areas in regional planning policy, seven functional activity zones, four
character zones and 13 Housing Market Areas (HMAs). The FEMAs have been explored
primarily to inform regional policy making. There has been limited assessment of FEMAs at
a local area.
12.
At a sub-regional level broadly, there is consistency in the characterisation of different parts
of the region between the FEMAs. At a sub-regional level, the north and east of the region is
regarded to have the strongest economic potential. The overall framework of the seven
functional economic activity zones has remained consistent over time. Perhaps the most
significant change has been the identification of sub-zones within the North East Triangle.
The settlement structure has been a key determinant of the functional economic activity zones
and HMAs.
13.
External links to London and the South East economies has been an influence on how FEMAs
have developed and been characterised. Distance to markets is seen as a constraint on the
economic potential of the western area of the South West.
14.
Work has been undertaken outside the South West, but this is similar in nature to previous
work undertaken within the South West, and does not provide the level of functionality
provided in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool.
15.
The previous work has focused on FEMAs primarily at the sub-regional level. The work
undertaken for this project, culminating in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool allows
identification and analysis of FEMAs below the sub-regional level, with many data sources
broken down to Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level; and also importantly provides
functionality for users to investigate aspects of their FEMAs and local economies in far more
detail. This project takes the South West far in advance of other recent work in the North
East and West Midlands which do not provide a similar level of functionality.
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The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
16.
17.
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool – and the spatial analysis in this report – has been
developed to help:
•
identify and describe current FEMAs
•
investigate themes in the LEA guidance
•
understand what is happening and the story of place.
The Tool includes data relating to a range of FEMA themes. The tool includes 100 layers
which are summarised in the table below.
Table 1-2: Themes and layers
Theme
Layer Folder
Access to services
Distance to food store, GP premises, Post Office, primary school,
Further Education Colleges South West England
Higher Education Institutions South West England
Base layers
Background maps
Higher tier
Rail
Roads
Rural urban definitions
South West outline
Unitaries boroughs
Demography
Pensionable age
Population change 01 08
Population forecasts
Working age population
Economy
Average distance to work
Business units
Claimants
Commuting self cont
Economic inactivity
Employment by occupational group
Forecasts
FTE workers
GVA change
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Theme
Layer Folder
GVA total
IDBR age bands
IDBR local units
IDBR local units size
Job density
Knowledge economy
Knowledge economy locational quotient
Sectoral employment
Self employment 2001
Sole traders and partnerships
TTWAS 2001
TTWAS 1991
Value tourism
Weekly income
Work from home
Workplace earnings
Housing
2009 affordability ratio
2009 median house price
Natural environment
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
National parks
Places
Association of Market Towns classification
Brownfield
Growth points
Local Delivery Vehicles
Rateable value
Strategically significant cities and towns
Previous FEMA
Housing markets
LGA zones
South West RDA character zones
South West RDA functional zones
Qualifications
GCSE score
Skills no-qualification
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Theme
Layer Folder
Skills NVQ3+
Skills NVQ4+
Retail
Retail catchments 1-2
Retail catchments 1-3
Social
IMD score
Claimant count
Claimants LSOA
Out of work benefits
18.
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool is available from the South West Observatory (SWO)
Core Unit on a DVD and uses free-to-use GIS software. The Tool will be updated over time
as new data become available and will be made available by SWO. A guidance manual has
been prepared for the Tool. This takes users through various steps – launching the Tool,
using the data layers, adding data layers to hard drives, exporting and printing maps and
undertaking more bespoke analysis. The guidance manual is available at Annex E to this
report.
19.
The core functionality of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool includes:
20.
•
ability to display & overlay multiple layers (turn on/ off)
•
zoom and move about the map
•
print or export the map displayed
•
link to underlying data
•
legend listing all layers and scale bar.
It is also possible to import the data in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool into more
sophisticated desk-top GIS systems to enable more detailed analysis. Further details are
provided in the guidance manual at Annex E to this report.
Identifying FEMAs Using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
21.
In the main body of the report some initial analysis has been undertaken using the Tool to
illustrate some of the key themes identified in the LEA guidance. This has been undertaken
in three main areas:
•
Multivariate analysis which gives a first cut of the data and a starting point for further
analysis;
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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•
Thematic analysis which uses the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool to undertake some
preliminary analysis on the LEA themes at the South West level, as a starting point for
further local analysis; and
•
Some initial views on these key themes at the upper tier local authority level.
22.
The multivariate analysis looks for correlations between the 100 datasets and focuses on those
with the greatest correlation. These correlated datasets are then brought together into clusters
or groupings of datasets with the greatest similarities. The seven clusters that emerge from
this analysis are:
23.
Four primarily urban clusters:
1. (Badly housed mixed neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by poor housing, ethnic diversity, higher proportions of students
and high population density. They form parts of the centres of most cities and larger towns
2. (Deprived, poor neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by low incomes, skills and educational attainment, single parent
households and high claimant rates. These are also found in most cities and larger towns, but
are not confined to the centre of settlements.
3. (Low skill working neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by public sector housing, low skills, and routine and semiroutine occupations. These are also found in most cities and larger towns, and also in some
more rural locations.
4. (Middle-aged, diverse neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by relatively high proportions of middle aged people, ethnic
minorities, high car ownership and high population density. Again these are mainly urban
neighbourhoods, but also appear on the outskirts of some cities and towns.
24.
And three rural and suburban clusters:
5. (Resorts & retirement)
These areas are characterised by a high proportion of public sector employment, second
homes, and residents of retirement age. There are also higher proportions of houses in
multiple occupation. There is a strong coastal distribution of these areas, though they also
appear in attractive, rural inland areas.
6. (Rural communities)
These areas are characterised by high proportions of employment in agriculture and fishing,
poor access to services, small businesses (both size and turnover), home-working and high car
ownership and longer distance commuting. The make up the 'rest of' the countryside which is
not commuter belt or a resort or retirement area.
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7. (Urban fringe)
These areas are characterised by high car ownership, well-qualified residents and also by
prevalence of small businesses. They clearly define the areas of attractive countryside close to
cities and larger towns which are the locations of choice for commuters.
25.
These clusters can be seen in the map of the South West, below.
Figure 1-1: MVA Cluster Map of the South West
Source: SQW Consulting
26.
As an example of the thematic analysis which can be carried out by users, the figure below
illustrates the location of deprivation (where red is the highest level of deprivation, blue the
medium and green the lowest) and benefits claimants (where pink hatching shows medium
levels of claimants and brown dots the highest levels), and the coincidence of the two. This
can be used to investigate economic inclusion as part of the process of identifying a FEMA.
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Figure 2: Map for ‘Economic Inclusion’ theme, showing concentrations of deprivation and of benefit
claimants
Key: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD, 2007) score: Green = low (<10); Blue = medium (10-20); Red = high (>20). Benefit
claimant concentrations (see description below) Pink hatching= medium (0.02 – 0.03) ; Brown dots = high (>0.03)
27.
The figure below shows the coincidence of employment in the knowledge economy (where
yellow shows a high concentration and brown the highest concentration) with low levels of
deprivation (shown as green hatching) and the location of Higher Education Institutes and
Further Education Colleges (shown as crosses). In this case the Spatial Economic Analysis
Tool can be used to test whether these factors are co-located.
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Figure 3: Map for ‘Enterprise & Innovation’ theme, showing the Knowledge economy, along with areas
of lowest deprivation and HEIs
Key: Knowledge economy concentrations: Yellow = high (5.8 – 10.2%) ; Brown = very high (10.2 – 93.7%). Hatched areas =
lowest deprivation scores. Cross symbol = HEIs
28.
The figure below shows how the Tool can be used to focus in on a more local area to
understand what is happening at this level.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 4: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the Public
administration, education and health sector (focused on Dorset)
Key: Proportion of employees in Public administration, education and health: Light blue = 25 – 50 % ; Dark blue = >50 %.
Red dots = SSCTs
Future Influences on FEMAs
29.
The main report provides some discussion about the factors that are likely to influence any
future change in FEMAs, although such drivers are by their nature uncertain. The table below
reviews some examples of key drivers of change in the future, and suggests how they might
influence FEMAs. It is important to note that some of the trends and their possible
implications contradict each other. However, at the time of writing there are significant
changes taking place to the political and economic landscape of the UK, and the implications
of these changes are not known.
Table 3: Examples of key drivers of change and their implications for FEMAs
Driver of change
Possible implication for FEMAs
Growth of the knowledge economy
Could lead to increase in size of FEMAs in knowledge economy
intensive areas as population grows in response to economic
opportunities. Could lead to strengthening of FEMAs in these areas as
knowledge-intensive economies become more robust.
Structural changes to economy – decline
of manufacturing and growth in health,
retailing, education and services
Changes in activity and employment in key sectors of the economy will
lead to the re-shaping of FEMA boundaries, with contraction and
weakening in those FEMAs based on declining industries, and growth
and strengthening in those FEMAs based on growing industries.
Improved ICT infrastructure and
connectivity
Opposing predictions have been made about whether greater
knowledge intensity and greater ICT connectivity will lead to a lesser
need for face-to-face contact to conduct business in the future, or this
will remain as important as it is today. Clearly these opposing patterns
will have different impacts on the shape and size of FEMAs in the future.
Whilst opposing, these patterns are not necessarily contradictory as the
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Driver of change
Possible implication for FEMAs
way in which business is conducted may change, to incorporate both
more remote working, combined with regular face-to-face working. This
could make FEMAs larger but weaker.
In the non-business realm improved ICT connectivity may weaken
FEMAs as people participate in leisure activities (e.g. viewing films from
home rather tan in a cinema) and retail remotely and so do not need to
be located in close proximity to such facilities.
Increasing congestion on key transport
routes
Could lead to a reduction in long-distance commuting and the growth
and strengthening of FEMAs with high employment concentrations.
Could lead to greater reliance on public transport, hence the evolution of
FEMAs to better map to public transport infrastructure.
Could lead to more home-working, hence weakening of FEMAs
characterised by strong employment centres.
Climate change
Higher risks in certain areas (e.g. coastal areas) may lead to population
contraction and consequential shrinkage of FEMAs; and climate change
impacts on activities such as agriculture may lead to changes in the size
and shape of FEMAs, particularly in more rural areas
Increased energy costs
Could lead to greater reliance on public transport, hence the evolution of
FEMAs to better map to public transport infrastructure.
Could lead to greater home-working, hence breakdown of commuting
relationships to urban areas, and consequential contraction or reshaping of FEMAs.
Steadily increasing number of retirees
and older people moving into the region,
and a net outflow of young people aged
16 to 24
Relative importance of the drivers of FEMAs likely to change, with
functions such as healthcare and retail becoming more important in
defining FEMAs in areas with high concentrations of retired residents.
FEMAs covering areas which are attractive to retirees may grow and
strengthen.
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1: Introduction and Objectives
Key messages
A core objective of LEAs is to, “identify the economic linkages between the area
assessed & the wider economy” (CLG guidance). Analysis of economic
geography is also promoted in the development of an evidence base for the South
West.
Economic linkages are expressed in terms of Functional Economic Market Areas
(FEMAs), “the area over which the local economy and its key markets operate”
(CLG definition). This requires analysis of how areas fit into wider markets beyond
administrative boundaries.
This project was commissioned to develop a shared evidence base to help to
identify FEMAs and other spatial economic linkages in the South West to support
partners responsible for developing LEAs and other strategy making.
Introduction
1.1
This report has been prepared by SQW Consulting (SQW) working in association with c4g
following the completion of the Functional Economic Market Areas (FEMAs) and economic
linkages research project. The research was commissioned by the South West Observatory
(SWO) Core Unit on behalf of a wider partnership including South West Regional
Development Agency (SWRDA), fifteen upper tier local authorities and the Regional
Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP).
1.2
The purpose of this project is to investigate FEMAs in the South West, which play an
important role in Local Economic Assessments (LEAs) and policy and strategy making at
other geographical levels.
Local Economic Assessments and strategy making at other geographical
levels
1.3
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act received Royal Assent
in November 2009 3. The Act has placed a statutory duty on upper tier local authorities in
England to prepare an LEA 4. LEAs should tell the story of place and set out the evidence
base on economic conditions and performance. They are also expected to describe how they
will support sustainable economic growth – economic growth that can be sustained and is
within environmental limits, but also enhances environmental and social welfare and avoids
greater extremes in future economic cycles.
1.4
At the time of preparing this report, the new Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition
government has not made any policy statements on LEAs. In the Queen’s Speech, the new
3
4
This remains in place at the time of writing
In the South West region, there are 16 authorities with responsibility for preparing a LEA.
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government announced its intention to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies and return some
planning and housing responsibilities to local authorities. This makes it extremely unlikely
that new regional strategies will be taken forward. However, the need to understand how
functional economic geographies operate across administrative boundaries remains. These
developments have taken place in the later stages of the research, so consequently the report
and its analysis still considers FEMAs from a South West and LEA perspective.
Functional economic market areas
1.5
Guidance published by Communities and Local Government (CLG) to support the
preparation of LEAs 5 and regional strategies 6 (which remains in place at the time of writing)
calls for some consideration of functional economic geographies.
1.6
With regard to LEAs, one of the core objectives of LEAs is, “to identify the local economic
geography, including the linkages between the area being assessed and the wider economy”.
CLG guidance goes on to state that, “The Government believes that local economic
assessments should, as far as possible, match real economic geographies or functional
economic market areas”. The Policy Statement on regional strategies places emphasis on
developing polices for sub-regions within each region and advises that the identification of
sub-regions should have regard to, “the economic geography of the region and functional
relationships”.
1.7
Chapter Two provides a discussion on the definition of FEMAs and their importance to
economic development policy making. CLG has defined FEMAs as, “the area over which
the local economy and its key markets operate” 7. The LEA guidance also states that,
“functional economic market areas are spatial areas that can be mapped by a combination of
the key indicators of economic activity and across areas”. FEMAs reflect the real world in
which the economy operates, extending beyond the administrative area level (districts, unitary
authorities, county or regional boundaries) at which economic development policy is
generally made. Economic geography is different to political geography, requiring the
analysis of economic flows and linkages insofar as they affect economic development policy
at the scale at which the economic markets operate.
Project objectives
1.8
Against this backdrop, the SWO and RIEP are supporting upper tier local authorities in
developing LEAs, and have appointed a LEA evidence coordinator to help achieve this aim.
These regional institutions and SWRDA are keen to inform consistent approaches to the
consideration of FEMAs within the South West, to support effective policy and strategy
making.
5
Department of Communities and Local Government, Local Economic Assessments: Consultation on Draft
Statutory Guidance, December 2009.
6
Department of Communities and Local Government and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills,
February 2010, Policy Statement on Regional Strategies
7
Department of Communities and Local Government, Functional Economic Market Areas: An economic note,
February 2010.
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1.9
This research project was commissioned to help support this process. The primary purpose of
the project has been to develop a shared evidence base to inform the identification of FEMAs
and other spatial economic linkages in the region to help the preparation of LEAs and strategy
making at other geographical levels.
1.10
The purpose of the project has not been to arrive at a single set of defined FEMA boundaries
across the region. Rather the project has explored functional geographies of different themes
that influence economic development, for example labour markets and retail catchments,
gathering appropriate indicators to evidence the themes.
1.11
The outputs of the study have been designed to help:
•
define and describe current FEMAs
•
investigate themes in the LEA guidance
•
understand what is happening and the story of place
•
provide a common and shared evidence base that can be used by local authorities and
other stakeholders in the South West to enable consistency of spatial economic
analysis.
Project outputs
1.12
1.13
There are three main outputs of the project:
•
a Spatial Economic Analysis Tool, together with the data behind it, which maps data
indicators relating to functional market areas. The tool is based on a GIS system and
has been designed to enable users to combine – and potentially add – different
datasets (or data layers) to allow them to undertake unique analysis to understand
local functional geographies, and particular local issues
•
a guidance manual for using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
•
this final report which sets out the work that has been undertaken and includes some
initial analysis of the spatial dynamics of the region, which allows stakeholders to
take this analysis further.
Further details on the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool are provided in Chapter Four. The tool
uses free to use GIS software and is available from the SWO on a DVD. The Tool will be
updated over time as new data become available.
Methodology
1.14
The project has sought to develop a jointly owned means of understanding the economic
linkages between the South West’s local authority administrative areas and the wider
economy. The project involved three main stages of work and seven inter-linked tasks.
These are depicted in the figure below.
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Figure 1-1: Project methodology
I: Induction Meeting
Phase 1:
Background
&
Preparation
Phase 2:
Understanding
Stakeholders’
Requirements
Phase 3: Delivering
a System
II: Literature & Data Review
III: Understanding Local/
Regional Requirements
IV: Defining the System
V: Data Collection
VI: Modelling & Analysis
VII: Reporting & Delivery
Source: SQW Consulting
1.15
A full description of the methodology followed can be found in Annex A. A key feature of
the methodology has been Phase 2 which involved extensive consultation with stakeholders
throughout the South West to ensure that their needs were understood and that the outputs of
the project met these needs as far as it was possible to do so.
Report Structure
1.16
The remainder of the report is structured into five chapters:
•
Chapter Two provides a discussion on why FEMAs are important to economic
development policy making and stakeholders’ views on how the study can support
the preparation of LEAs and regional policy. The chapter also discusses approaches
to understanding FEMAs and stakeholders’ views on factors that are of most
importance in the South West
•
Chapter Three provides a review of the existing state of knowledge on functional
geography and economic linkages in the South West from an analysis of previous
regional research and policy
•
Chapter Four sets out the specification of the project outputs
•
Chapter Five provides high-level advice on FEMAs in the region based on the
analysis of layers in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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•
Chapter Six provides a high-level understanding of how FEMAs and other economic
linkages are developing over time.
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2: Functional Economic Market Areas
Key messages
The geography of economic activity is increasingly complicated. People often live,
work and undertake leisure activities in different administrative areas and links for
business and people can be truly global.
There is a strong argument that economic analysis is best undertaken at the
spatial level at which the market operates. This can support better policy making.
Understanding FEMAs helps to understand the roles of different places and can
provide a common evidence base and shared understanding of the nature, extent
and distribution of economic activity.
The study was regarded by stakeholders as being useful to supporting the
preparation of LEAs and for policy making at other geographical levels, including in
terms of ensuring consistency in approach and improving understanding of FEMAs
and geographic and economic relationships.
There is no universally agreed approach to defining FEMAs and no definitive map
of FEMAs. They vary in size and boundary, depending on the issue under
consideration (e.g. labour market, retail catchments) and the criteria used to define
them.
In the consultation programme stakeholders had a good high-level understanding
of FEMAs in relation to TTWAs, housing and the settlement structure.
Understanding of economic linkages was much more limited. The consultations
revealed limited examples of local analysis of FEMAs or primary survey data
relating to economic linkages.
The assessment of FEMAs is not just a question of data. It relies on judgement
and qualitative evidence. The interpretation of data and of analysis will often
include subjective opinion as well as more objective assessment.
Introduction
2.1
The purpose of this chapter is to set out the benefits of undertaking analysis of FEMAs in
developing economic development policy and to provide guidance on factors that are of
interest in considering FEMAs. The chapter also provides feedback on the consultation
process in respect of how the study was seen as supporting the process of developing LEAs
and policy making at other geographical levels.
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Increasing complexity of economic activity
2.2
2.3
Implicit within the CLG guidance on LEAs and regional strategies 8 is a recognition that the
geography of economic activity is increasingly complicated:
•
people often live in one administrative area, work in a second, and they may travel to
a third to do their weekly shopping or go to the cinema
•
at the same time, there is a distinctive functional geography which exists within
administrative boundaries: smaller town centres or market towns have their own
catchments, while highly localised patterns of service provision may be important for
the well-being of individual neighbourhoods
•
for the business community, functional geographies can be genuinely global; flows of
knowledge and capital typically pay scant regard to international boundaries, let alone
those associated with local government
•
looking to the future, there are many examples of planned housing growth sited in
one administrative area while the employment growth – which the new housing is
intended to service – is substantively located in another.
Additionally, any particular place may exist in many “layers” of functional space. A town
like Bath, for example, is simultaneously both a significant hub in relation to much of north
and east Somerset but also strongly part of the Bristol labour market catchments; and has
commercial and commuting relationships with London. Through its heritage assets – and
arguably its university – it certainly has an international profile and it attracts many
international visitors and students every year. Hence to understand thoroughly the economy
of Bath – and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – there is a need to
recognise this broad geography of flows and the position of Bath within it.
How the assessment of FEMAs can support economic
development policy making
2.4
This complexity of economic activity presents opportunities and challenges for economic
development policy making. Given that economic flows and linkages extend beyond
administrative areas, there is a strong argument that FEMAs are the most appropriate unit for
economic development policy analysis – and these will vary according to the subject being
analysed. This is because economic analysis is best undertaken at the spatial level at which
the market under consideration operates. So, for example, analysis of labour market issues in
a local authority area needs to consider the skills of the local population and the profile and
strengths of the business base, but it should also consider flows of workers into and outside of
the area to understand its role in the wider economy, and the skills and business profile of
neighbouring areas.
2.5
Determining policy at the most appropriate scale can lead to better policy making. This is
because:
8
In place at the time of writing
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•
policies developed at a national or regional level do not reflect local differences
between places, e.g. in economic conditions
•
policies developed at an individual local authority level may not consider the full
costs and benefits of the policies beyond the administrative boundaries. Decisions
taken at a FEMA level can ensure:
¾
the costs and benefits are fully considered in the decision-making, thus
spatial ‘spillovers’ (e.g. negative or unintended impacts) are minimised
¾
policies are based on a full understanding of wider barriers and opportunities
•
policies can promote wider interests, for example those of neighbouring local
authorities or at the sub-regional, regional or national level
•
policies can promote partnership working between local authorities and public sector
organisations, helping to overcome co-ordination failures in the public sector and
providing a common platform for negotiating with tiers and agencies of government.
2.6
There are others reasons that support the case for FEMA analysis. One of the strengths of
FEMA analysis is that it seeks to consider the role of places in the wider economy across a
range of domains. Consequently, it can help to support better integration between policy
areas, for example land use planning and transport. Such integration does of course happen
already, but FEMA analysis can support it further and ask new questions of the data.
2.7
Most importantly, FEMAs help to understand the roles of different places and can provide a
common evidence base and shared understanding of the nature, extent and distribution of
economic activity.
Stakeholders views
2.8
Stakeholders were asked how the project process and its results will support the production of
LEAs and strategies at other geographical levels. The majority of stakeholders (but not all)
expected the project outputs to be useful to support work underway or planned to prepare
LEAs and in developing the strategies at other geographical levels. Stakeholders identified a
range of benefits of the project. These are summarised in the table below.
Table 2-1: Ways in which the project will support preparation of Local Economic Assessments and the
Regional Strategy
Issue
Detail
Help inform joint working
•
Improve shared understanding of the region and sub-regions, to
enable policy development
•
Provide justification for (or against) partnership areas
•
Support basis for joint working between local authorities and with
their partners
•
Create a shared evidence base
Provide evidence to inform a consistent
approach
•
Provide evidence which can be used in a variety of ways at
different geographical scales
Meet requirements in national guidance
•
Add robustness to the evidence base
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Issue
Support policy development
Inform understanding of FEMAs and
geographic and economic relationships
Detail
•
Enhance mapping to aid interpretation of data
•
Development of LEAs, and in some cases economic
development and planning strategies
•
Initial work for Regional Strategy
•
Unspecific investment decisions
•
Explore variety of issues related to FEMAs
•
However, there was no common clear set of region-wide ‘big
issues’ identified
•
Some expectations beyond the scope of the project included
comparison with other regions/ places
•
Might be useful to help identify LEPs
Source: SQW Consulting
Help to inform joint working…
2.9
Some stakeholders identified that by developing a shared understanding of FEMAs and
economic linkages, the project would provide a basis for joint working between services
within local authorities; between local authorities; and between local authorities and other
partners. Informing joint working is an outcome of a consistent approach to LEAs in the
South West. The evidence is expected to enable analysis of the rationale of current
partnership arrangements and future discussions on the most appropriate administrative areas
to use in decision making and policy development.
Ensure consistency in approach…
2.10
It was widely perceived by stakeholders that by undertaking the project across the South
West, the findings would provide insight into the wider linkages between places in the South
West while being finely grained enough to explore FEMAs within local areas. The nature of
wider linkages between places was a topic felt by some stakeholders to be a weakness in their
present understanding.
2.11
Some stakeholders felt that a benefit of the project would be the consistent approach it would
provide to the assessment of FEMAs through collecting and analysing data across the whole
region.
Meeting requirements in guidance…
2.12
Chapter One introduced the requirements in national guidance for the exploration of
economic linkages in preparing LEAs and the regional strategies. This project is regarded as
being an important contributor to meeting these requirements, although there was an
expectation that further analysis will be undertaken by stakeholders of the project outputs at
the local level.
2.13
The project was expected to improve the robustness of the evidence bases for LEAs and
strategy making at other geographical levels in terms of the topics covered and the
interpretation and mapping of data. Some stakeholders also valued the independence of the
research.
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2.14
The consultations revealed that the upper tier authorities were at various stages in the
development of the LEAs, with the majority of the first LEAs expected to be finalised
between September and December 2010. Local authorities are waiting for this study to
inform their analysis of FEMAs in their evidence bases under preparation for the LEAs. In
the meantime local authorities are focusing effort on other requirements in the guidance, for
example preparing policy statements (e.g. on worklessness) and implementing consultation
strategies.
Explore FEMAs and geographical and economic relationships…
2.15
The main benefit of the project identified by stakeholders was to explore FEMAs and
economic relationships as they operate across the region. Consultees referred to a range of
issues of relevance to the LEAs and regional level strategies, including:
•
labour market catchments and commuting patterns
•
supply-chains and economic linkages – e.g. business-to-business trade, customer
flows
•
influences on business location decisions
•
social issues – e.g. the distribution of wealth and measures of wealth such as earnings,
household income and housing costs
•
retail catchment areas
•
the geography of inward investment ‘areas’
•
learning and education – e.g. travel to learning flows, locations of education
institutions, influence of Higher Education Institutions on economic development
•
cross-border links – the main interest was on exploring links within the region but
external links to the South East, West Midlands and Wales was of interest to some
stakeholders
•
future patterns of FEMAs.
2.16
The topics that emerged as being most important across the consultation programme
including the regional workshop in April were: Travel To Work Areas (TTWAs); supplychains and economic linkages; transport catchment areas and infrastructure; and retail
catchment areas. These are important region-wide issues, but what also came across as
strongly from the consultation programme was the significant variety in the topics of interest
to local areas and consultees. A specific set of region-wide ‘big issues’ did not emerge from
the consultation programme, perhaps partly because consideration of economic linkages and
FEMAs is less well advanced in the preparation of LEAs.
2.17
The regional workshop discussed the spatial scale at which the project should consider
FEMAs. It was agreed that the spatial analysis needs to be appropriate to the economic
linkages under consideration, but that the project should aim to enable finer grained analysis
than in previous regional research.
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2.18
It has not been the intention of this project to arrive at a set of best-fit FEMA boundaries
across the region. This approach was supported in the consultations undertaken with upper
tier authorities, with consultees looking for the project to provide high-level advice on
FEMAs but not to be prescriptive in defining specific boundaries.
Supporting policy development…
2.19
Although the project was regarded to be most useful for analytical purposes, by improving
understanding of conditions and linkages the project was also expected to have wider uses in
supporting policy development. Aside from the LEAs and regional strategy, stakeholders
said the work would support economic development strategy development (e.g. sector
specific work), Local Development Frameworks and proposals for housing and site
developments. Some local authorities also thought that the project could assist investment
decisions, although this was described in general terms.
Approaches to assessing Functional Economic Market Areas
2.20
To date, there has been no standard definition of FEMAs and no definitive map of FEMAs
across England. The CLG definition of functional market areas provided in Chapter One is a
relatively recent development. A methodological challenge for assessing FEMAs is that they
vary in their size and strength, depending on how they are defined and the policy area being
considered.
2.21
The table below presents a list of factors that can be used to define FEMAs.
Table 2-2: FEMA analysis themes in previous research
Theme
Travel to Work Areas (TTWAs) - usually defined as at least 75% of the economic active residents working in the area
and at least 75% of the people working in the area also living in the area
Self-containment – the proportion of people living and working in the same area
Housing Market Areas (HMAs) – often defined as containing 70% of local housing moves
Supply chains/ industrial structure – e.g. market and supply links of businesses and business services
Service markets – the spatial area of users of goods and services (including higher order goods and services such as
museums)
Administrative areas – they are not always defined by political boundaries and have been established to respond to
issues of interest to FEMA analysis e.g. regeneration areas
Historical relationships
Retail markets
Transport catchment areas.
Source: SQW Consulting
2.22
The assessment of FEMAs also generally involves spatial analysis and the mapping of socioeconomic data in a GIS system to reveal patterns, relationships and the roles of places in their
wider area.
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2.23
Given the multi-faceted nature of FEMAs, the strength of any analysis will be improved if a
range of economic, social and environmental issues are considered in seeking to understand
FEMAs.
Challenges and pitfalls
2.24
There are a number of methodological challenges to FEMA analysis. The most significant is
the availability of data. Previous FEMA work has found limited availability of robust data on
supply chains and economic linkages. Much of the socio-economic data available relates to
stocks rather than linkages or flows. Data that measure flows or linkages are limited, and are
often gathered through primary surveys for particular purposes.
2.25
The assessment of FEMAs is not just a question of data. It relies on judgement too, and
qualitative evidence. The interpretation of data and of analysis will often include subjective
opinion as well as more objective assessment.
2.26
Lastly, the criteria or thresholds used to define FEMAs can have a bearing on the results. For
example, the pattern of TTWAs will look different depending on the threshold used. Using
inappropriate spatial levels or thresholds can lead to misleading results.
Stakeholder views on approaches to understanding Functional Economic
Market Areas
2.27
The consultation programme asked consultees to identify factors that help to understand
FEMAs and to identify the FEMAs of most importance to economic development in their
local area. The table below presents the key findings of the consultations.
Table 2-3: Definition and understanding of FEMAs
Issue
Detail
Factors that help to understand
FEMAs
Stakeholders most often defined FEMAs in terms of TTWAs and labour markets
Much less knowledge and understanding of FEMAs in terms of supply-chains and
economic linkages
Understanding of FEMAs tended to be based on knowledge of the area, rather
than being underpinned by local research to back up perceptions on FEMAs
Some, but limited sub-regional analysis of FEMAs
FEMAs of most importance to
economic development
The main FEMA themes felt to influence economic development varied by
consultee/ area.
Most commonly selected themes were:
•
Labour markets/ TTWAs
•
Supply-chains/ economic linkages
•
Retailing
•
Transport and infrastructure (including availability and quality of broadband in
rural areas).
Source: SQW Consulting
2.28
Consultees most often discussed FEMAs in terms of TTWAs, housing markets, settlement
types, and the roles of settlements and places in their wider structure. Stakeholders tended not
to define FEMAs from the perspective of economic linkages and supply chains, although
12
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some stakeholders did discuss the importance of sectors such as tourism, the defence industry
and aerospace to particular places.
2.29
Consultees had a good understanding of FEMAs relating to labour market catchments,
commuting and housing. The influence of commuting flows and transport links on economic
performance was referred to by stakeholders, particularly in relation to large settlements such
as Bristol and Swindon and links to major employment centres such as London and
Southampton. Generally, descriptions of FEMAs in places further away from larger cities in
the region tended to include more localised issues, including town and village relationships.
Geographical barriers were identified as affecting the direction of economic linkages between
places in a number of cases, as well as affecting the size and shape of the FEMAs.
2.30
Prior to commissioning this work stakeholders’ understanding of FEMAs tended to be
relatively high-level. It was informed by consultees’ knowledge and understanding of places
and tended not to be underpinned by local research. For example, aside from some analysis
of TTWAs at the district and ward levels, the consultations revealed few previous examples
of research to assess FEMAs. There also appear to have been few previous attempts to map
socio-economic data. The commissioning local authorities have been waiting for this work to
help inform their analysis of FEMAs.
Data and indicators for FEMA analysis
2.31
Stakeholders were consulted on sources of data and evidence to explore FEMAs across the
region and the availability of research, particularly primary survey data relating to economic
linkages and supply chains. The table below summarises the key findings from this part of
the consultation programme.
Table 2-4: Data and indicators for FEMA analysis
•
Some examples of regional, sub-regional and local research identified
•
National datasets were identified for data indicators
•
Very limited availability of primary survey data. Where undertaken, this has tended not to consider economic
links and flows e.g. business to business supply chains
Source: SQW Consulting
2.32
Consultees identified data and indicators which could be useful for the project. Most of the
data suggested was from official national datasets, including data on business start-ups,
economic output and commuting flows. Some stakeholders referred to examples of local
research (e.g. ward level analysis of TTWA, neighbourhood mapping) but this was not
extensive. The project has not had the resources to undertake a detailed review of local
research and policy, which should be taken forward by local partners in the next step in the
development of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool.
2.33
It was hoped that primary data resources would be identified through the consultation
programme, for example on business to business trade flows and customer markets.
Unfortunately very few examples of primary survey data were identified. Similarly, the
consultation programme revealed few instances of socio-economic data having been mapped
in a GIS system, whether at a local, sub-regional or regional level.
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3: Existing Knowledge on Functional Economic
Market Areas
Key messages
Existing knowledge on FEMAs in the South West includes the identification of
three sub-regional spatial areas in regional planning policy, seven functional
activity zones, four character zones and 13 Housing Market Areas (HMAs).
The FEMAs have been explored primarily to inform regional policy making. There
has been limited assessment of FEMAs at a local area.
At a sub-regional level broadly, there is consistency in the characterisation of
different parts of the region between the FEMAs. At a sub-regional level, the north
and east of the region is regarded to have the strongest economic potential
The overall framework of the seven functional economic activity zones has
remained consistent over time. Perhaps the most significant change has been the
identification of sub-zones within the North East Triangle
The settlement structure has been a key determinant of the functional economic
activity zones and HMAs.
External links to London and the South East economies has been influential on
how FEMAs have developed and been characterised. Distance to markets is seen
as a constraint on the economic potential of the western area.
Work has been undertaken outside the South West, but this is similar in nature to
previous work undertaken within the South West, and does not provide the level of
functionality provided in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool.
Introduction
3.1
The main focus of this chapter is on previous work on functional geography that has been
undertaken in the South West, but we have also looked at some work that has been
undertaken in other regions to identify any lessons from this.
3.2
There has been previous analysis of functional market areas in the South West. The
assessments undertaken have been from a regional and sub-regional perspective, to help
inform regional planning and regional economic strategy. This chapter presents the findings
of a review of relevant existing resources and their assessment of:
•
sub-regions
•
economic activity zones
•
character areas
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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•
retail Catchment Areas
•
Housing Market Areas (HMAs).
Sub-regional emphases
3.3
The draft RSS 9 distinguishes three broad sub-regions in the South West and includes policy
approaches for each. Details on each of the sub-regions and their FEMA characteristics and
links are provided in Annex A.
3.4
The sub-regions are:
•
the north and centre of the region – where the policy objective is to realise growth
potential
•
the south east of the region – where policy emphasis is on managing growth
•
the western peninsula – where the objective in the draft RSS is to stimulate the
economy.
3.5
The three areas are not formal sub-regions but are differentiated between in regional planning
for spatial emphasis in policy approaches. Within each sub-regional designation, the draft
RSS seeks to steer development and growth to Strategically Significant Cities and Towns
(SSCTs) in order to support their economic and service roles and regeneration potential 10.
Figure 3.1 overleaf shows the location of the SSCTs.
3.6
The sub-regions and the SSCTs were identified in regional policy from the assessment of the
characteristics of the region and functional analysis of the role of places and key settlements.
The selection of the SSCTs was not based just on settlement size.
3.7
The draft RSS also discusses the fragmentation in the traditional distinction between urban
and rural areas in the South West, with people residing in rural areas but living urban
lifestyles and being reliant on employment and other services in nearby towns and cities. The
number of medium sized towns is also identified as a distinguishing feature of the region.
These towns serve an important role in rural areas as centres of employment and service
provision. The draft RSS notes that the relationship between market towns and smaller
settlements and rural areas is becoming increasingly complex. In some places traditional
links have been broken by increased personal mobility.
9
South West Regional Assembly, 2006, The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West 2006-2026
The SSCTs in the current draft RSS are Barnstaple, Chippenham, Taunton, Bath, Dorchester, Torbay,
Bournemouth, Exeter, Trowbridge, Bridgwater, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, Plymouth, Weymouth,
Camborne/ Pool/ Redruth, Poole, Yeovil, Falmouth-Penryn, Truro, Salisbury, Cheltenham, Swindon.
10
15
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 3-1: Draft RSS Strategically Significant Cities and Towns
Source: SQW Consulting
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Functional economic zones
3.8
The RES 11 supports the spatial strategy in the draft RSS. The RES identifies seven
overlapping functional economic zones in the South West which each display consistent
economic and social functions 12.
3.9
The zones are depicted in Figure 3.2 overleaf and further explanation on each zone is
provided in tables in Annex A. The boundaries of the zones overlap and are not intended to
be fixed.
3.10
The seven functional zones are:
•
North East Triangle – this is the largest and most powerful of the zones, containing
three sub-zones: West of England; Swindon and the adjacent M4 corridor; and
Gloucester, Cheltenham and the adjacent M5 corridor
•
A303 Corridor – the least coherent zone defined by the road link and including the
towns of Salisbury and Yeovil
•
South East Coastal – centred around the prosperous Bournemouth-PooleChristchurch conurbation but also including less affluent rural Dorset
•
M5 Corridor – a bridging zone between the North East Triangle in the more
prosperous north and the zones in the less affluent south. It includes Exeter, Westonsuper-Mare and Taunton
•
South Central – containing the key settlements of Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay, the
southern part of the zone has performed relatively slowly and parts of the zone are
remote
•
North Peninsula – a predominantly rural zone with no major urban centres
•
Western Peninsula – the most peripheral of the zones, containing three major towns
(Truro, Falmouth-Penryn and Camborne-Pool-Redruth), smaller local centres and
rural areas.
11
South West Regional Development Agency, 2006, Regional Economic Strategy for South West England 20062015
12
South West Regional Development Agency, 2006, Spatial Implications – Place Matters.
17
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 3-2: South West Functional Economic Zones
Source: South West Regional Development Agency, 2006, Regional Economic Strategy for South West England 2006-2015
18
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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3.11
In headline terms, there has been little change in the designation of the functional zones over
the past 10 years. The seven zones were first identified by consultants in 2000 to give spatial
specificity to the delivery of the first regional strategy, with a second study updating the work
in 2001 13. The zones were defined based on ‘fundamental economic geography’ – having
relatively self-contained labour markets (largely informed by commuting data from 1991 and
1997) and similar economic characteristics. A further study was completed in 2004 14
although this did not undertake significant new functional analysis and re-confirmed the same
albeit renamed 15 zones that appear in the current RES. The 2004 report did recommend
further analysis of the relationship between Weymouth and Portland and Yeovil and
consideration of whether this would warrant extending the M5 Corridor zone or adjusting the
shape of the A303 Corridor zone.
3.12
The regional workshop in April 2010 asked stakeholders if the functional economic zones still
had currency. Stakeholders generally agreed with the zones, although they identified the
analysis of patterns within zones as a weakness. A key feature of this current work and the
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool that has been developed is that it allows stakeholders to
analyse data at a local level rather than to rely on regional level analysis and boundaries that
are determined by others. The Tool allows users to undertake analysis at a lower level than
previous work because many of the datasets are available at LSOA level.
Characteristic zones
3.13
Although the Spatial Dynamics 2004 study referred to above did not undertaken significant fresh
analysis of the functional economic zones, the study did undertake new characteristic analysis.
Characteristic zones were defined as areas of common economic, social and environmental
characteristics. The study assessed the character of the region through the analysis and mapping
of data on the economy, social issues, access, culture, population, environment, housing and
deprivation.
3.14
The research identified four characteristic areas. These are shown in the figure below. They
are:
•
The Western Edge - including much of the northern peninsula coastal belt and the
Forest of Dean in the north. Predominantly a rural area, this zone was defined based
on shared population, housing and social characteristics
•
The South Peninsula – this zone has a similar geography to the South Central
functional zone. It was defined on cultural/ identity grounds
•
The North East – the zone maps closely to the North East Triangle functional zone.
The area shares similar characteristics in economics, access, population, housing and
social domains, with the zone extending into parts of neighbouring regions
13
DTZ Pieda Consulting, 2001, South West RDA Spatial Prioritisation, Review of Economic Activity Zones.
South West Regional Development Agency, 2004, Spatial Dynamics Final Report
15
In the 2000 and 2001 studies the South East Coastal zone was called Dorset Coastal, South Central was the
South Devon zone, North Peninsula the North Devon and Exmoor zone and the Western Peninsula was named the
Cornwall and Isle of Scilly zone.
14
19
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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•
The South East – this zone includes much of the A303 and South East Coastal
functional zones, with links to the South East region. This zone was defined based on
‘average’ characteristics in many domains.
Figure 3-3: Characteristic zones
Source: DTZ Pieda Consulting, 2004, Spatial Dynamics Final Report
3.15
The analysis that informed the designation of the characteristic zones was from a regional
rather than local perspective and the report recognises that it does not consider issues of
importance to each local area.
Retail catchment areas
3.16
The draft RSS refers to four broad retail catchment areas in the region, although they are not
identified in the document. The draft RSS does list the main centres in the region as
including Barnstaple, Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Gloucester,
Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Swindon, Taunton, Torquay, Truro, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil,
Cribbs Causeway and Clarks Village in central Somerset.
3.17
Studies were undertaken in 2004 on the retail performance of urban centres 16 and in 2005 for
the SSCTs on retail, office and leisure uses 17. This work was updated for the Examination in
16
17
CACI, 2004, Baseline Retail Assessment of the Regional/ Sub-Regional Centres in the South West
DTZ, 2005, South West’s Town Centres Regional Study.
20
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Public (EIP) of the draft RSS in 2007. The table below shows the ranking of the top fifteen
centres in this work 18.
Table 3-1: Retail ranking hierarchy
Ranking
CACI 2007 retail ranking - centres
DTZ 2007 retail ranking - centres
1
Plymouth
Cheltenham
2
Cheltenham
Bath
3
Bristol (not including Broadmead redevelopment)
Bristol Broadmead
4
Bath
Exeter
5
Exeter
Salisbury
6
Cribbs Causeway
Plymouth
7
Cribbs Retail Park
Swindon
8
Bournemouth
Cribbs Causeway
9
Swindon
Bournemouth Central
10
Salisbury
Taunton
11
Gloucester
Gloucester
12
Taunton
Torquay
13
Truro
Poole
14
Yeovil
Yeovil
15
Torquay
Truro
Source: http://www.swcouncils.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=3041
3.18
The two indices are broadly consistent, with Cheltenham, Plymouth, Bath, Bristol and Exeter
retail centres appearing at the top of both lists. The table is included here for illustrative
purposes, as the draft RSS does not include a retail hierarchy.
Housing market areas
3.19
Research undertaken in 2004 for the South West Housing Body 19 defined 12 sub-regional
Housing Market Areas (HMA)s and one character area which did not constitute a subregional HMA but shared common housing characteristics. The HMAs were defined as
typically containing 70% of household moves, excluding long distance moves associated with
a major lifestyle change. The HMAs were identified from the analysis of household moves
and travel to work data and consultations with stakeholders.
3.20
The HMAs and character area are shown in Figure 3.4 overleaf and listed in the table below.
18
The updated CACI retail index ranked 30 town and city centres and all of the SSCTs as of 2007 (May 2007); the
updated DTZ retail index ranked 30 centres as of 2006 (May 2007)
19
DTZ Pieda Consulting, 2004, Analysis of Sub-Regional Housing Markets in the South West
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Table 3-2: Description of Housing Market Areas and Character Area
Area
Description
1. West Cornwall
•
Comprising the former districts of Penwith, Kerrier, Carrick and Restormel and extending
into parts of North Cornwall
•
Similar in character to the North Cornwall and North Devon polycentric character area
(number 13)
•
Extending from Plymouth outwards as far as Totnes, Tavistock and Liskeard
•
Less extensive HMA than other major cities in the region because of the relatively small
employment base in Plymouth
•
Extends into South Hams and Teignbridge districts
•
Relatively tightly drawn round the urban area reflecting relatively poorer economic
performance
•
Large HMA reflecting high accessibility of Exeter and employment growth
•
HMA extends into East Devon, South Somerset, parts of Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and
Teignbridge
5. Taunton
•
HMA stretches along road networks covering all of Taunton Deane District, and taking in
much of West Somerset, and parts of East Devon, South Somerset, Mendip and
Sedgemoor.
6. Weymouth Dorchester
•
Relatively small HMA comprising Weymouth and Portland and the southern parts of West
Dorset District
7. Bournemouth
Poole
•
Covering all of conurbation and Purbeck district and much of North Dorset and East Dorset
•
Extends into the New Forest District of the South East region
8. South
Somerset – West
Dorset
•
Small HMA focused on Yeovil and Sherborne and including much of South Somerset and
the northern part of West Dorset
9. Salisbury
•
Centred on Salisbury but extending out including into parts of South East region
10. West of
England
•
Large HMA, extending into Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
•
Analysis suggests HMA also extends into Wales
11. Swindon
•
Comprises urban area and westwards into former Cotswold, North Wiltshire and Kennet
districts
12. Gloucester Cheltenham
•
Centred on the Gloucester and Cheltenham urban areas
•
Influenced by WoE and Swindon HMAs and by HMAs in the West Midlands
13. North Devon/
North Cornwall
Character Area
•
Large area including Exmoor National Park, North Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall
districts
•
Comprises series of local markets, reflecting rural character and absence of a dominant
employment centre
2. Plymouth
3. Torbay
4. Exeter
Source: DTZ Pieda Consulting, 2004, Analysis of Sub-Regional Housing Markets in the South West
The HMAs map reasonably well against the economic activity zones. In the regional
workshop stakeholders reported that the HMAs continue to be relevant. The HMAs are in the
main associated with major urban centres in the region. Where this is the case, the HMAs
reflect the strength of employment in the urban centres.
22
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Figure 3-4: Housing Market Areas
Source: South West Regional Housing Board, 2004, Analysis of Sub-regional Housing Markets in the South West
23
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Travel to work areas
Table 3-3: 2001 Travel to Work Areas
3.21
The Travel to Work Areas (TTWAs) are a widely recognised set of functional economic
geographies in the South West. A TTWA is an area within which the bulk of the resident
population also work in the same area. According to the ONS “The fundamental criterion is
that, of the resident economically active population, at least 75 per cent actually work in the
area, and also, that of everyone working in the area, at least 75 per cent actually live in the
area.” 20 The current TTWAs were defined in 2007 using 2001 Census information on home
and work addresses, and are based on Lower Layer Super Output areas, with the data being
modelled. TTWAs may iron out any local detail and can be less useful nearer the edges,
particularly where concentrations of employment are close together. For example the divide
between Bristol and Bath is not as clear as the TTWA boundary suggests. A more detailed
view of travel to work patterns can be determined using CommuterView 21 (a tool available
via the ONS website), but this does not allow the regional-level mapping that TTWAs
provide.
Functional economic market area analysis outside the South West
3.22
Work from two other regions has been reviewed – from the West Midlands and the North
East.
20
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/ttwa.asp
http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Info.do;jessionid=ac1f930d30d6607d8e10d00d41368
254cd248c020d82?m=0&s=1277279395984&enc=1&page=analysisandguidance/analysisarticles/CommuterView.
htm&nsjs=true&nsck=true&nssvg=false&nswid=1680
21
24
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
The North East
3.23
Three pieces of work have been undertaken to inform understanding of Functional Economic
Market Areas in the North East.
3.24
The first was entitled Spatial Analysis of Economic Flows in the North East (2006 22). This
work used a number of datasets including: census commuting data; flows data from Experian
household survey on travel patterns around High Street shopping locations, retail parks, for
groceries from market towns. Data was used at various sub-regional levels to:
•
identify economic hotspots of varying sizes
•
identify possible physical barriers to economic flows
•
identify links between deprivation and areas of relative self containment
•
identify economic linkages between different areas
•
identify the extent of city regions, as measured using catchment area data
•
identify the links between rural and urban areas.
3.25
The report produced an alternate set of ‘commuting zones’, as Travel to Work Areas were
deemed to be outdated.
3.26
A second report was produced on Exports from the Region and Supplies to the Region
(2007) 23. The research tried to map supply chains and markets, which had not been done in
the first report as no robust region-wide data was available. Although deemed as not adding
much value when the West Midlands analysis was undertaken 24, an input-output model
(operated by Durham University for One North East) was used to identify the interactions
between economic sectors.
3.27
A third report on The Economic Geography of the North East looks in further detail at the
FEMAs as part of the process to develop evidence for the regional strategy and LEAs. The
research is being conducted in two phases; the first to provide a broad body of evidence and
the second to focus on a small number of key issues. Through a literature review and spatial
data analysis of each element, the work aims to:
¾
analyse commuting data at a smaller area level than in the 2006 report, to
enable better understanding between different parts of the North East
¾
define economic hotspots (the locations with the highest concentrations of
employment, broken down by sector). This is also intended to include
consideration of supply chains and markets for business, presumably using
the 2007 input-output model analysis
¾
examine the geography of pockets of deprivation, and the influencing factors.
22
http://nerip.co.uk/library/view.aspx?id=259
http://nerip.co.uk/library/view.aspx?id=513
24
Association of Regional Observatories, Economic geography: regional observatory approaches
23
25
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
3.28
The resulting analysis describes functional economic areas in the North East and provides a
very simple regional level map.
West Midlands
3.29
A report entitled Analysis of Sub-regional Dynamics in the West Midlands was commissioned
by Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands local authorities, to enable a better
understanding of FEMAs. The document is caveated as producing the fullest picture possible
using the best available data, with a lack of data availability meaning some potentially
interesting functional links (such as supply chains) are not explored.
3.30
The approaches to identifying functional sub-regional areas and further analysis are set out
below:
Industry and Economy
•
Supply chains and markets: There is little in the literature about the economic links
between local areas. Given the complex and global nature of markets, it was claimed
in Economic Geography: Regional Observatory Approaches that there was no
adequate approach to provide reliable information in the West Midlands. It was
judged that the North East approach of using Input-Output modelling would not add
much value. Thus no analysis of supply chains and markets is provided in the
analysis.
•
Industrial mix: Analysis and mapping the sectoral mix of employment tends to be
approached using location quotients. The Observatory argue that location quotients
can show an unclear pattern, as they reflect the location of individual firms including
small ones in areas with very low levels of employment. The results were ‘clarified’
by identifying the concentrations of employment in a particular sector (using up-todate employment data), and then using census travel to work data to establish
commuting patterns to those areas.
Labour Market
•
Commuting data: An adapted Travel to Work Area approach using census data was
used for the Analysis of Sub-regional Dynamics in the West Midlands. The
adaptations aimed to simplify the methodology, and included conducting analysis at a
ward rather than super output area level. Areas with low-levels of self containment
were treated as a single zone, and analysis was limited to the West Midlands region
and neighbouring areas rather than the whole country. Some analysis was also
provided of how trends have changed since 2001, based on analysis of the Annual
Population Survey at local authority level.
•
Socio-economic classifications: ONS Area Classifications were reviewed, but found
to provide little valuable information at the sub-regional level.
•
Labour market classifications: Key labour market characteristics (including
occupational mix, economic activity and skills levels) were mapped, but were found
26
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
to be of limited value, as most sub-regions (once a certain ‘suitable’ size) tended to
include a mix of socio economic characteristics.
Housing 25
3.31
3.32
In the West Midlands, the Observatory argued that two of the CLG’s methods of identifying
sub-regional housing market areas could add value to analysis. These are:
•
House prices and rates of change in house prices, which reflect household demand
and preferences for different sizes and types of housing in different locations.
•
Household migration and search patterns, reflecting preferences and the trade-offs
made when choosing housing with different characteristics.
Full details of these methods can be found in Identifying sub-regional housing market areas.
Geography and Environment
3.33
Limited data were found in the audit for Analysis of Sub-regional Dynamics in the West
Midlands. Of that which was found most was generally argued to be of little value in defining
sub-regions. The data included:
•
Urban-Rural Classifications: There is a well established series of classifications of
areas into urban and rural categories. In addition to these categories, an alternate
classification was also used (following development by the North East Regional
Information Partnership). This alternate classification recognises the relationships
between rural areas and nearby urban areas, using commuting data.
•
Land use: Data on different types of land use did not add value to the understanding
of sub-regions beyond highlighting the difference between urban and rural areas.
•
Natural Environment: Natural environment classifications such as Landscape
Character Areas and River Catchments added limited value.
Community
•
Wider travel patterns: Experian ‘retail catchments’ and ‘big night out’ data were
used to understand travelling patterns for shopping and leisure. Local authority level
Travel to Learn data was collected from the Learning and Skills Council.
•
Community identity: Analysis of newspaper circulation from JICREG provides
details of circulation areas of different regional and local newspapers. Analysis of the
most read purchased newspaper across the region gave a clear sub-regional pattern.
•
Demographic characteristics: Mapping of demographic characteristics including
age and ethnicities was undertaken, but added little value to analysis.
25
See CLG guidance on the three approaches to defining the sub-regional housing market
(http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/323693.pdf)
27
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Conclusion
3.34
There have been several previous pieces of work which investigate functional economic
geography within the South West and in other regions in the UK. Through consultation, we
have identified that there has been broad support for the functional geographies arrived at in
the above work. However, analysis has been primarily at a regional level, with limited
analysis at lower levels,, meaning that it is of limited use for developing LEAs and
understanding relevant FEMAs, which requires investigation at the local level. The previous
work also arrives at a set of boundaries which cannot be tested further at the local level.
3.35
This current piece of work (culminating in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool) provides the
opportunity for stakeholders investigate below the regional level of previous work:
•
With the functionality to look at different datasets which have been collected to help
inform the LEA process either individually or in combination;
•
And the ability to zoom in and look at a far more local level, particularly where data
are available at the LSOA level.
3.36
Work done outside the South West does not provide this level of functionality, and again
arrives at a set of boundaries prescribed at the regional level (as has previously been the case
in the South West.) Other key messages emerging from the work undertaken elsewhere
include: recognition that robust supply-chain mapping is not possible with currently available
data; and recognition of limitations of the ONS Area Classifications (which has been
addressed in this work by undertaking new multivariate analysis)
3.37
All of the boundaries produced within these previous functional analyses of the South West
region are included in the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool as layers so that they can be
investigated in more detail and at a local level if stakeholders wish to do this.
28
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
4: The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Key messages
The main study output is a Spatial Economic Analysis Tool. The tool maps various
datasets to explore and understand FEMAs in the South West. The Tool provides
a common platform to undertake this analysis.
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool is available on a DVD and utilises free-to-use
GIS software.
The Tool can be used to identify and describe current FEMAs, investigate themes
in the LEA guidance and understand what is happening and the story of place.
A guidance manual has been prepared to provide advice on how to use the Spatial
Economic Analysis Tool.
Introduction
4.1
This chapter introduces the outputs of the project and how they can be used to support the
preparation of LEAs and for policy making across various geographical areas. It sets out the
content and functionality of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool and introduces the guidance
manual that has been prepared to help use the it. Lastly, the chapter provides high-level
advice on the on-going management of the Tool.
Project outputs
4.2
There are three outputs of the project:
•
a Spatial Economic Analysis Tool (based on a GIS package), together with the data
behind it, which maps data indicators relating to functional market areas
•
a guidance manual for using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
•
this final report.
4.3
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool maps 100 socio-economic datasets to explore and
understand FEMAs. It helps to understand FEMAs in the South West and the roles of
different places. The Tool provides a common platform by which to undertake this analysis.
4.4
The tool has been designed to enable users to combine – and potentially add – different
datasets (or data layers) to allow them to undertake unique analysis to understand local
functional geographies, and particular local issues. It is possible to update the Spatial
Economic Analysis Tool over time as new data become available. Further details on the
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool are provided below.
29
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
4.5
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool is available from the SWO on a DVD and utilises freeto-use GIS software. A guidance manual is available to help users of the Tool and is
appended to this report at Annex E. Please contact the SWO to receive a copy of the Tool.
The intended use of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
4.6
4.7
The Tool – and the spatial analysis in this report – has been developed to help:
•
identify and describe current FEMAs
•
investigate themes in the LEA guidance
•
understand what is happening and the story of place.
The Tool will be of use in understanding and identifying FEMAs at different spatial scales
across the region. The analysis of spatial dynamics in Chapter Five has been structured to
explore the following FEMA issues:
•
Structure of economy
•
Enterprise and innovation
•
Demography and geography
•
Labour market
•
Skills
•
Economic inclusion
•
Natural environment
•
Transport infrastructure
•
Housing
•
‘Place’.
4.8
These topics map against many of the core LEA themes in the latest national guidance 26.
Further details on how the content of the Tool maps against LEA themes is provided in
Annex B to this report.
4.9
The Tool will also be of use to policy makers operating at the sub-national level in terms of
providing a consistent resource to explore FEMAs at different geographical levels, from
LSOA level up to regional level. Analysis has been undertaken at the regional scale and some
preliminary analysis at the upper-tier authority level in Chapter Five.
4.10
A requirement of this project has been to undertake high-level assessment of FEMAs across
the region. The analysis in Chapter Five provides some initial assessment using the Tool and
drawing out patterns and relationships for different places. The Spatial Economic Analysis
26
Department of Communities and Local Government, Local Economic Assessments: Consultation on Draft
Statutory Guidance, December 2009.
30
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Tool has been developed to enable further analysis to be undertaken by users of the tool
beyond that set out in this project.
4.11
An additional buffer of one local authority district beyond the South West border has been
included within the Tool to allow cross-border analysis, except for the border with Wales
where differences in the way that data is collected and made available mean that this has not
been possible.
Content of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
4.12
The Tool includes data relating to a range of FEMA themes.
4.13
The starting point for deciding on the content of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool was the
list of factors that can be used to explore FEMAs in Table 2.2. These themes were tested with
stakeholders in the consultation programme to identify those that were most important and
data that could be included in the Tool to evidence them.
4.14
A long list of data indicators against the themes was prepared. A prioritisation exercise was
undertaken to identify the highest priority and tested with the project Steering Group. The
indicators were prioritised against the project objectives, the desire to include data to enable
finer grained analysis to be undertaken, the resources available for the project and the need to
keep the Tool manageable.
4.15
There were trade-offs in selecting the final list, between the desire for the data to be available
at the lowest spatial scale and the reliability of the data; and between data reliability and the
age of the data. Where more than one indicator was potentially available, the most suitable
indicator was selected.
4.16
The final selection has involved an element of judgement. The data list is not intended to be
exhaustive. Further data are available that could be included in the Tool in the future.
However, the priority going forward should be to include data where there are currently gaps
in the Tool.
4.17
A full list of the datasets that have been included in the Tool as layers is set out in the Table
below. More detail on the rationale for choosing these layers and excluding others is set out
in Annex D.
4.18
These layers have been selected to provide a good range of socio-economic data to inform
LEAs and other regional policy making; to keep the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
manageable and usable; and to deliver a tool within the timescale and budget available for this
project. However, a key feature of the Tool is that it can be updated and further layers added
in the future as required.
4.19
Where possible, data have been collected and layers mapped at Lower Super Output Area
(LSOA) level 27.
27
An LSOA is a Census data collection unit and represents around 1,500 residents. Therefore, the geographical
area and the business activity within LSOAs will vary.
31
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Layers
Table 1: Spatial Economic Analysis Tool Layers
Theme
Layer Folder
Year
Source
Data description
Access to services
Distance to food store
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road distance (KM) to a food
store
Distance to GP premises
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road distance (KM) to GP
premises
Distance to Post Office
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road distance (KM) to a Post
Office
Distance to primary school
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road distance (KM) to a primary
school
Further Education Colleges South West
England
2009
Association of Colleges
Locations of further education colleges
Higher Education Institutions South West
England
2008/9
HESA data return 08/09
Locations of higher education institutions
Background maps
2010
OS OpenData
Two background maps
2010
OS OpenData
Background map
2010
OS OpenData
Higher tier local authorities
OS OpenData
Rail lines
2010
OS OpenData
A roads
2010
OS OpenData
Motorways
Rural urban definitions
2004
ONS
Rural urban definitions
South West outline
2010
ONS LSOAs
Outline of the South West region
Base layers
Higher tier
Rail
Roads
32
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Demography
Economy
Layer Folder
Year
Source
Data description
Unitaries boroughs
2010
OS OpenData
Unitary and borough local authorities
Pensionable age
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population Estimates
Population change 01 08
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population Estimates
Population forecasts
2006
ONS
Sub national population projections
Working age population
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population Estimates
Average distance to work
2001
2001 Census
Average distance to work (km)
Business units
2008
Econ-I
Number business units
Claimants
2010
Nomis
Claimants as % working age population
Commuting self cont
2001
2001 Census
Commuting self containment
Economic inactivity
2004-2009
Annual Population Survey
Average economic inactivity % working age population
Employment by occupational group
2001
2001 Census
Combined occupational groups
2001
2001 Census
Combined occupational groups
2010
South West Economy Module
Workers: full time equivalent change 2009-2015
2010
South West Economy Module
Gross value added change (%) 2009-2015
2010
South West Economy Module
Workers: full time equivalent change 2015-2030
2010
South West Economy Module
Workers: full time equivalent change 2015-2030
FTE workers
1998-2008
South West Economy Module
Workers: full time equivalent change (%) 1998-2008
GVA change
1998-2008
Econ-I
Gross value added change 1998-2008
Forecasts
33
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Layer Folder
Year
Source
Data description
2003-2008
Econ-I
Gross value added change 2003-2008
GVA total
2008
Econ-I
Gross value added total
IDBR age bands
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band <2 years (%)
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 2-3 years (%)
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 4-9 years (%)
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 10+ years (%)
IDBR local units
2009
IDBR
Local units count
IDBR local units size
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 0-4 employees (%)
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 5-9 employees (%)
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 10-19 employees (%)
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 20+ employees (%)
Job density
2008
IDBR, ONS
Total employees / working age population
Knowledge economy
2008
ABI
OECD 2003 3 Digit SIC Code Definition
Knowledge economy locational quotient
2008
ABI
OECD 2003 3 Digit SIC Code Definition – locational quotient
Sectoral employment
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC A,B) (SIC C,E) (SIC D) (SIC F)
(SIC G,H) (SIC I) (SIC J,K) (SIC L,M,N) (SIC O,P,Q)
Self employment 2001
2001
2001 Census
Self employment
Sole traders and partnerships
2008
IDBR
Sole traders & partnerships
TTWAS 2001
2001
ONS
Travel to work areas
34
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Housing
Natural
environment
Places
Previous FEMA
Layer Folder
Year
Source
Data description
TTWAS 1991
1991
ONS
Travel to work areas
Value tourism
2008
SOUTH WEST Tourism
Tourism total spend
Weekly income
2007-2008
ONS
Weekly income - net
2007-2008
ONS
Weekly income - total
Work from home
2001
2001 Census
Works mainly from home
Workplace earnings
2004-2009
Annual Survey of Hours and
Earnings
Full time weekly workplace earnings
2009
Annual Survey of Hours and
Earnings
Full time weekly workplace earnings
2009 affordability ratio
2009
South West Councils
Lower quartile affordability ratio
2009 median house price
2009
South West Councils
Median house price
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
2010
MAGIC
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
National parks
2010
MAGIC
National Parks
Association of Market Towns classification
2009
Association of Market Towns
Classification of market towns
Brownfield
2010
HCA
Brownfield land sites
Growth points
2010
HCA
Growth Points
Local Delivery Vehicles
2010
HCA
Local Delivery Vehicles
Rateable value
2005
HCA
Rateable value £ per m2
Strategically significant cities and towns
2008
Draft South West RSS
Strategically significant cities and towns
Housing markets
2004
DTZ
Sub regional housing markets
35
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Qualifications
Retail
Social
Layer Folder
Year
Source
Data description
LGA zones
2007
LGA
Thriving Local Communities, Mapping Sub Regions
South West RDA character zones
2004
DTZ
Spatial dynamics
South West RDA functional zones
2004
DTZ
Spatial dynamics
GCSE score
2008-2009
ONS
Average level 3 QCA point score per entry
Skills no-qualification
2006-2008
Annual Population Survey
No Qualification
Skills NVQ3+
2006-2008
Annual Population Survey
NVQ3+
Skills NVQ4+
2006-2008
Annual Population Survey
NVQ4+
Retail catchments 1-2
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail catchments
Retail catchments 1-3
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail catchments
IMD score
2007
IMD
Overall score
Claimant count
2010
Nomis
Unemployment claimant count rate (% of working age
population)
Claimants LSOA
2010
Nomis
Unemployment claimant count rate (% of working age
population)
Out of work benefits
2009
DWP
% of working age population claiming out of work benefits
36
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
4.20
A guidance manual has been prepared for the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool and is attached
at Appendix E. This takes users through various steps – launching the tool, using the data
layers, adding data layers to hard drives, exporting and printing maps and undertaking more
bespoke analysis. The guidance manual has been circulated separately in this version of the
report.
4.21
The core functionality of the Spatial Economic Analysis tool includes:
4.22
•
ability to display & overlay multiple layers (turn on/ off)
•
zoom and move about the map
•
print or export the map displayed
•
link to underlying data
•
legend listing all layers and scale bar.
Ensuring effective analysis is very important when using the tool. For this reason, keeping
the number of layers displayed to a manageable and discernable level has been a very
important aspect of the project.
Management of the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
4.23
The tool has been developed with the intention that it will be updated over time with new data
and information as it becomes available. This can be done centrally by the SWO as the coordinators of the tool, or separately by users of the tool.
4.24
The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool will ideally be updated annually, as new data becomes
available, or more regularly if new data becomes available that will significantly improve the
sophistication of the tool.
Potential future enhancement of the Tool
4.25
The focus within this project has been on creating a tool that is practical and straightforward
to use, to enable stakeholders to undertake analysis to inform LEAs and other strategies and
policies. There has been a limit to the time and resource available to do this. The current
version of the tool is intended to be a starting point, with regular updates. In this section, we
discuss some areas which could be enhanced in the future.
4.26
The main areas for future development of the Spatial Economic Analysis tool that should be
pursued if data and resources become available are:
•
Inward investment flows – as a proxy of attractiveness to business investment and
globalisation (for foreign direct investment). Data may be available from ONS.
•
Business supply chains. This has been identified as a key requirement by
stakeholders, but this is dependent on primary data. Other regional work outside the
37
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
South West discussed in Chapter Three also investigated this issue but was unable to
address it. There is a lack of primary data in the South West, as there is in every
other region. A potential proxy is to look at industrial concentrations, supply
relationships (ascertained from the regional input-output model econ-i) and then
concentrations of supply sectors. This approach doesn’t in practice reveal supply
chains, but highlights co-located concentrations of sectors that may have supply chain
relationships. However, this is likely to be very time-consuming and there are
concerns about the quality of the result (which were raised in the work undertaken in
the West Midlands referred to in Chapter Three). As a starting point to addressing
business locations, the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool has layers with data on Broad
Industrial Groups:
•
Agriculture & fishing
•
Banking, finance and insurance
•
Construction
•
Distribution, hotels and restaurants
•
Energy & water
•
Manufacturing
•
Other services
•
Public administration, education and health
•
Transport and communications
•
and knowledge economy
•
Business customer markets
•
Commuting – this was not included because of the resources that would be required
to analyse commuting flows across the region. The recent commuting data release
(Annual Population Survey) is also only available at district level.
•
Strategic employment land and housing land allocations
•
Priority regeneration areas
•
House price data – at low spatial scale (the Tool includes house price data at district
level)
•
Transport accessibility, for which data may be available from SWRDA
•
Transport congestion
•
Location of cultural attractions.
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5: Initial analysis of the spatial dynamics of the
South West
Introduction
5.1
This section presents some examples of maps created using the Spatial Economic Analysis
Tool with available layers, and a commentary on these maps. These examples provide some
initial analysis of the spatial dynamics of the South West which can be taken forward through
individual LEA or policy/strategy development processes. Commentary is provided on
observable patterns and relationships at the South West and sub-regional level, as well as on a
more local (zoomed-in) example illustrating key points within each theme.
5.2
Where possible, maps have been presented using fine grain data built up from the Lower
Super Output Area (LSOA) level. It is important to be aware that, as much of the land area of
the region is rural, the LSOAs appear as relatively large shapes due to low population density
in these areas, which do not necessarily indicate high concentrations.
5.3
The presentation and analysis in this chapter is broken down into three areas:
5.4
•
A review of the Multivariate Analysis within the Tool, which is a first cut of the data,
but provides some initial findings to be investigated further;
•
A review of some of the key LEA themes at a regional level; and
•
Some initial observations on how these key themes are represented at the Upper Tier
Local Authority level.
There are many other potential uses of the Tool, and this chapter is intended as a starting
point which can be taken further by other stakeholders. The chapter gives some initial ideas
about which layers can be used and combined into projects. All of the following projects are
available on the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool DVD, so can be used by stakeholders to
enable further analysis.
Multivariate analysis
5.5
Multivariate analysis was developed as a tool in consumer and market research as a way of
distilling a large number of variables into a much smaller set of 'summary variables'. This is a
way of revealing the main underlying relationships and patterns in a much larger data set.
The technique used in this instance was a cluster analysis – a way of grouping data units with
the greatest similarities together. In this case, the data units were lower super output areas
(LSOAs), and so each LSOA was allocated to a cluster based on all of the variables used for
the final stage of the analysis.
5.6
The process is complex, but the result is simple: a statistically robust way of grouping the
LSOAs according to the strongest features they have in common. In use, then, the analysis
provides an incisive geographical summary of socio-economic characteristics.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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5.7
ONS have already produced a cluster analysis of Census 2001 variables, deriving seven main
clusters (or 'Super Groups'), 20 sub-clusters (or 'Groups') and a further level of 'Sub Groups'.
It is a robust and useful analysis, but is based only on Census variables, and so its origins are
becoming dated. Our analysis sought to build on this work by adding more up-to-date
variables from sources other than the Census, such as the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), the
Interdepartmental Business Register (IDBR), the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and ONS. This means that the analysis contains
data from a number of different years – a potential weakness, but as the analysis produces a
'high level' summary only, this was thought to be acceptable.
Selecting variables
5.8
The first part of the analysis is a method of reducing a large amount of variables to a
sufficiently small set of variables for the cluster analysis. An initial set of 103 variables was
selected for the analysis. These were standardized before being used for the next stages. A
correlation table was produced using all the variables. Each variable is then checked to see if
and how it is correlated with the other variables. Any variable with a correlation of less than
0.375 with more than one other variable was dropped. All variables with correlations of more
than 0.7 were examined for similarity and the number of variables reduced to leave single
variables capable of representing other variables. The objective at this stage was to reduce the
variable set to one sufficiently representing the wider set yet small enough to allow
meaningful cluster analysis.
5.9
A final set of 34 variables was derived in this way:
Variable
Source
Year
Percentage of jobs in Agriculture and Fishing 2008
ABI
2008
Average distance km travelled per person to fixed place of work
Census
2001
Average household size persons per household
Census
2001
Housing tenure Percentage of houses in multiple occupation shared dwelling
Census
2001
Housing tenure Percentage of second or holiday homes
Census
2001
Percentage of economically active people aged 16 to 74 who work part time
Census
2001
Percentage of households that are private other rented accommodation
Census
2001
Percentage of households that are public sector rented accommodation
Census
2001
Percentage of households which are lone parent households with dependent children
Census
2001
Percentage of households with 2 or more cars or vans
Census
2001
Percentage of households with one person who is not a pensioner
Census
2001
Percentage of people aged 16 to 74 in employment who work mainly from home
Census
2001
Percentage of people aged 16 to 74 who are students
Census
2001
Percentage of people aged 16 to 74 with a higher education qualification
Census
2001
Percentage of people aged 16 to74 in employment usually travel to work by public transport
Census
2001
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Variable
Source
Year
Percentage of people aged 16 to74 in employment working with routine or semi routine
occupations
Census
2001
Percentage of people identifying as Indian Pakistani or Bangladeshi
Census
2001
Population density people per hectare
Census
2001
Percentage of population claiming IB SDA average of 4 quarters 2006 to 2007
DWP
2006/7
Percentage of population claiming JSA average of 4 quarters 2006 to 2007
DWP
2006/7
Enterprise turnover band
IDBR
2009
Number of Local Units with 0 to 4 Employed
IDBR
2009
Number of Local Units with public status
IDBR
2009
Percentage enterprise age band more than 10 years
IDBR
2009
Average KS4 points score ID 2007
IMD
2007
Children Young People Sub Domain Score
IMD
2007
Difficulty of access to owner occupation
IMD
2007
Education skills and training score
IMD
2007
Income score
IMD
2007
Not entering higher education rate
IMD
2007
Population weighted average road distance KM to a food store
IMD
2007
Percent of resident population aged 25 to 44
ONS
2008
Percent of resident population aged 45 to 64
ONS
2008
Percentage of pensionable age population 60 to 65
ONS
2008
0-49,000
Cluster analysis
5.10
The cluster analysis (using the K-means method) produced seven as the ideal number of
clusters based on the 34 variables. As each LSOA was allocated to a cluster the next stage
was to map the distribution of the clusters. A description of each cluster was produced based
on the variables most strongly defining the cluster (ascertained by examination of the means
and standard deviations for all variables across all clusters and all of the LSOAs as whole).
Findings
5.11
The analysis produced seven clusters which identify variables with the best correlations. The
clusters are:
1. (Badly housed mixed neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by poor housing, ethnic diversity, higher proportions of students
and high population density. They form parts of the centres of most cities and larger towns
2. (Deprived, poor neighbourhoods)
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These areas are characterised by low incomes, skills and educational attainment, single parent
households and high claimant rates. These are also found in most cities and larger towns, but
are not confined to the centre of settlements.
3. (Low skill working neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by public sector housing, low skills, and routine and semiroutine occupations. These are also found in most cities and larger towns, and also in some
more rural locations.
4. (Middle-aged, diverse neighbourhoods)
These areas are characterised by relatively high proportions of middle aged people, ethnic
minorities, high car ownership and high population density. Again these are mainly urban
neighbourhoods, but also appear on the outskirts of some cities and towns.
5. (Resorts & retirement)
These areas are characterised by a high proportion of public sector employment, second
homes, and residents of retirement age. There are also higher proportions of houses in
multiple occupation. There is a strong coastal distribution of these areas, though they also
appear in attractive, rural inland areas.
6. (Rural communities)
These areas are characterised by high proportions of employment in agriculture and fishing,
poor access to services, small businesses (both size and turnover), home-working and high car
ownership and longer distance commuting. The make up the 'rest of' the countryside which is
not commuter belt or a resort or retirement area.
7. (Urban fringe)
These areas are characterised by high car ownership, well-qualified residents and also by
prevalence of small businesses. They clearly define the areas of attractive countryside close to
cities and larger towns which are the locations of choice for commuters.
5.12
These clusters can be seen in the map below. The MVA map is available as a layer in the
Tool.
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Figure 5-1: MVA Cluster Map of the South West
Source: SQW
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5.13
The first four clusters mainly describe urban areas, and the last three rural areas. The region's
largest urban areas all contain a mix of areas of four urban clusters. It is important to note that
deprivation, poor housing, low skilled work and more diverse and younger neighbourhoods
are found up and down the region, in all of the Strategically Significant Cities and Towns
(SSCTs).
5.14
Smaller towns, though, often only show one or two of the urban clusters, indicating less
diversity of conditions, town by town. Clusters 1 and/or 2 are most often absent, indicating
lower levels of deprivation and associated characteristics
5.15
Of the rural clusters, there is a clear concentration of resorts and retirement areas (cluster 5) in
Cornwall and along the south coast of Devon and Dorset, though there are also pockets on the
north coast and in attractive rural areas such as Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Cotswolds.
'Commuter belts' (cluster 7) are more prevalent in the North and East of the region, probably
reflecting both the presence of larger towns and cities and better transport infrastructure.
Cluster 6 broadly represents rural communities and so 'fills in' the remaining rural areas.
5.16
In use the main value of these clusters is that they are based on the region and buffer and so
summarise that whole area. Therefore for smaller areas such as local authorities they
summarise the nature of the areas in terms of the region and buffer as a whole. It follows that
they also allow comparison of one area with another. So, for more local analysis, they
provide a starting point for further investigation using the wide range of layers in the Spatial
Economic Analysis Tool.
Thematic analysis
5.17
The commentary in this section has been structured by several of the key themes for LEAs as
follows:
•
Structure of economy
•
Enterprise and innovation
•
Demography and geography
•
Labour market
•
Skills
•
Economic inclusion
•
Natural environment
•
Transport infrastructure
•
Housing, and
•
‘Place’.
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Structure of the economy
5.18
5.19
This section presents sample maps for some of the major sectors of the economy. It examines
patterns across the region, and explores potential sub-regional groupings with similar sectoral
structure in the economy. We have chosen to look at four Broad Industry Groups (BIGs)
which are particularly important for the South West economy, but other BIGs may be of
interest for more local level analysis. The following sectors have been mapped:
•
Public administration, education and health
•
Manufacturing and construction
•
Agriculture and fishing
•
Banking, finance and other services.
To avoid over-complexity, we have looked at each sector in a separate map to discern the
patterns that they show.
Figure 5-2: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the Public
administration, education and health sector
Key: Proportion of employees in Public administration, education and health: Light blue = 25 – 50 % ; Dark blue = >50 %.
Red dots = SSCTs
5.20
This map shows which areas within the South West are more dependent on public sector
employment. We have also added the SCCTs which are useful to understand whether and
where concentrations of employment focus on the towns and cities of the region. Data are
from the ABI (2008), and the symbology has been adjusted to show those areas with more
than 25% and more than 50% of employment in the public sector. This map is useful to
45
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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identify those areas that are dependent on public sector employment, which is an increasingly
important question in a time of public spending cuts.
5.21
The heaviest concentrations of those working in the public sector appear to be in the east of
the region, although there are also significant proportions in Devon. The map above shows
seven ‘clusters’ of concentrations of public sector employees as a proportion of total
employees.
5.22
Below we present a closer examination of public sector employment in Dorset, to give an
example of the more localised capabilities of the Tool. Particular concentrations are apparent
in the main centres of Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Dorchester as well as Yeovil in
Somerset More information on the patterns of public sector employment at the level of upper
tier Local Authorities is shown in the next part of this chapter.
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Figure 5-3: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the Public
administration, education and health sector (focused on Dorset)
Key: Proportion of employees in Public administration, education and health: Light blue = 25 – 50 % ; Dark blue = >50 %.
Red dots = SSCTs
Figure 5-4: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the
Manufacturing and Construction sectors
Key: Proportion of employees in Manufacturing & Construction higher than 20%. Blue = Manufacturing; Green =
Construction.
Red dots = SSCTs:
47
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5.23
In the above map, we show those areas which are more dependent on employment in
manufacturing and in construction. For both sectors we have highlighted those areas in which
more than 20% of employment is found in either sector. Concentrations of employment in
the construction sector appear to be fairly evenly spread across the region. In terms of
concentrations of manufacturing, the patterns are slightly more pronounced; a band of
manufacturing exists in the north of the region in Gloucestershire, and the heaviest
concentrations appear to run in a band from east Somerset into central Wiltshire.
Figure 5-5: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the
Agriculture and Fishing sectors
Key: Blue = Proportion of employees in Agriculture & Fishing higher than 5%. ; Red dots = SSCTs
5.24
The above map shows those areas which are more dependent on the Agriculture & Fishing
sector, with LSOAs with more than 5% employment in this sector highlighted. We have also
added the SSCTs to the map, which highlights the inverse of the map of public sector
employment, i.e. that this sector tends not to be located in the SSCTs. The proportion of
employees in agriculture across the region is smaller than the previous two sectors, but
examining a map of where at least 5% of employment is in this sector, a large band in the
middle of the region becomes apparent. Much of north Devon, east Cornwall and west
Somerset appears to be reliant on agriculture as a mainstay of the economy. Other smaller
bands of concentration appear in west/central Dorset and through mid-Gloucestershire, as
well as mid-Cornwall.
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Figure 5-6: Map for ‘Structure of Economy’ theme, showing concentrations of employment in the
Banking, Finance and Other service sectors
Key: Proportion of employees in Service sectors higher than 25%. Blue = Banking & Finance; Pink = Other service sectors.
Red dots = SSCTs
5.25
In this map we have combined Banking & Finance and Other Services to show both sectors
on the same map. This gives a representation of large parts of the service sector. We have
also added the SSCTs to see whether the location of these sectors is driven by the SSCTs.
5.26
The service sectors tend to be clustered towards the east of the region; and concentrations
seem to increase still further just outside the region to the east, which may link functionally
with those in east Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. However, the mapping shows that there are
significant clusters of places in the west of the region where the service sector is strong, for
example along parts of the A30 and around the larger cities of Exeter and Plymouth. There
are also specific clusters of employment in banking and finance in mid-Cornwall around
Truro, and in east Devon.
5.27
Taking all four of the above maps together, agriculture appears to be more prominent in the
centre of the region throughout Devon, west Somerset and west Dorset, as well as in parts of
Gloucestershire. There is a clear focus on service sectors towards the east of the region, with
smaller pockets around larger cities in the region and dotted through the other counties.
There are stronger concentrations of manufacturing as an employment sector in the far north
of the region, and to the south of Bristol, including a large band from east Somerset into
central Wiltshire. Employment in public administration, education and health is fairly
widespread across the region, with particular concentrations apparent in Dorset and Devon
and west Gloucestershire. This South West level overview provides a starting point for more
local area analysis which can be undertaken with the Tool.
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Enterprise and innovation
5.28
This section examines two indicators linked to enterprise and innovation: self-employment
and the proportion of small businesses. We also map the concentrations of the knowledge
economy and compare this with locations of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
5.29
Caution should be exercised when dealing with self-employment as it could be driven by need
(e.g. lack of other employment opportunities) rather than by the desire to be entrepreneurial –
so can be limited in respect of identifying entrepreneurial hotspots – particularly in rural areas
where employment opportunities can be more limited.
Figure 5-7: Map for ‘Enterprise & Innovation’ theme, showing areas of low self-employment
Key: Self-employment: Blue = >15 % ; Dark green = 5 – 15 % ; Light green = <5 % .
5.30
In the above map the highest level of self-employment is coloured blue, with lower levels in
green and the lowest levels in light green. There are high rates of self-employment
throughout large parts of the region (shown above in blue), with much of the region having
more than 15% of the local population self-employed. Those areas with the highest
proportions of self-employment are found in the most rural areas – particularly across north
Cornwall and north Devon.
Places with the lowest proportion of self-employment (<5%) are evident in Bristol and in
Plymouth. Interestingly, there are also pockets in the east in areas which are not around
SSCTs. Closer inspection shows these to be in and around the army ‘camps’ of the (southern)
Salisbury Plain, Warminster, Bovington, Blandford and RAF Lyneham.
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Figure 5-8: Map for ‘Enterprise & Innovation’ theme, showing proportions of small businesses
Key: IDBR Unit size 0-4: Blue = 0 - 67 % ; Dark green = 67 – 80 % ; Light green = >80%.
5.31
The map above showing micro-enterprises is another indicator of entrepreneurialism –
although as mentioned above, caution should be exercised when determining whether a
significant proportion of small businesses is driven by need or desire. The prevalence of
micro-enterprises in rural areas is probably more driven by need. Light green areas represent
the highest concentrations of micro-enterprises, with dark green being lower concentrations
and blue the lowest concentrations.
5.32
Much of the region is characterised by high proportions (more than 80%) of businesses being
micro-enterprises (0-4 employees; light green in the above map). Areas with the smallest
proportions of micro-enterprises (shaded in blue) tend to coincide with urban areas. But there
are large areas with small proportions of micro-enterprises – most obvious above are parts of
Dartmoor and the Salisbury Plain, although note that these are likely to represent large
LSOAs.
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Figure 5-9: Map for ‘Enterprise & Innovation’ theme, showing the Knowledge economy, along with areas
of lowest deprivation and HE locations
Key: Knowledge economy concentrations: Yellow = high (5.8 – 10.2%) ; Brown = very high (10.2 – 93.7%). Hatched areas =
lowest deprivation scores. Cross symbol = HEIs and FECs
5.33
The above map combines several layers relating to the knowledge economy 28 (concentration
of employment in knowledge economy and the location of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs)
and Further Education Colleges (FECs)). In addition, we have added an indicator of higher
quality of life by showing those areas with the lowest Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
scores.
5.34
From the map it can be seen that HEIs and FECs tend to be located near the centre of clusters
of activity in the knowledge economy, although there are several instances (e.g. in west
Dorset) where this is not true. The strongest linkages between the presence of HEIs, FECs,
clusters of the knowledge economy and areas of low deprivation occur in the north of the
region in south Gloucestershire and north Wiltshire.
5.35
A sub-regional section of the above map is provided below in more detail, focused on Bristol,
Bath, northern Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. HEIs and FECs can be seen to be near, but not
necessarily in, areas with the highest concentrations of the knowledge economy, whilst the
same can be said of the areas of lowest deprivation. Knowledge economy workers may tend
to live in such areas, and commute to work.
28
The OECD identifies high and medium tech manufacturing; high value added “knowledge intensive” market
service industries such as finance and insurance and telecommunications; and business services. The current
OECD definition also includes education and health
52
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Figure 5-10: Map for ‘Enterprise & Innovation’ theme, showing the Knowledge economy, along with
areas of lowest deprivation and HEIs (local example)
Key: Knowledge economy concentrations: Yellow = high (5.8 – 10.2%) ; Brown = very high (10.2 – 93.7%). Hatched areas =
lowest deprivation scores. Cross symbol = HEIs
5.36
Together these maps for ‘Enterprise and Innovation’ indicate that, as might be expected,
micro-enterprises and high self-employment tend to be concentrated in rural areas, indicating
that there are likely to be high levels of enterprise in the more rural parts of the region (visible
exceptions to this include those rural areas which include military garrisons), most likely
driven by need. There is a cluster of HEI and FEC locations in Bristol and in a band running
roughly southwest and northeast from Bristol. Much of the knowledge economy is clustered
in the east of the region, which may be functionally linked across the boundary to the closest
parts of the South East region.
Demography and geography
5.37
This section shows how some of the datasets can be used to understand the demography and
geography of the region, including population change (2001-08), average distance travelled to
work and concentrations of people of pensionable age.
53
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Figure 5-11: Map for ‘Demography & geography’ theme, showing population change 2001-2008
Key: Green = population loss ; Blue = population gain
5.38
In the map above, the layer showing population change has been simplified to show those
areas experiencing population loss (coloured in green) and those showing population gain
(coloured in blue). The map shows population change from 2001 to 2008. Areas of recent
population loss include large parts of Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, south Dorset,
and parts of west Devon and central Cornwall. It also includes several urban areas such as
large parts of Swindon, Poole and Bournemouth UAs.
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Figure 5-12: Map for ‘Demography & geography’ theme, showing concentrations of people of
pensionable age, and AONBs/National Parks
Key: Proportion of population of pensionable age; Blue = >30% of population. SSCTs = Red dots. AONBs = Pale green
hatching; National Parks = Dark green hatching.
5.39
This map looks at areas where there is a high concentration of people of retirement age
(coloured in blue), AONBs and National Parks to investigate the hypothesis that retired
people tend to locate in these more attractive areas. Again, the SSCTs are shown on the map
both to help to understand the relationship with these towns and cites and also to give some
indication of place in the region. There are clear concentrations of pensioners around the
coastal settlements in the west of the region. There is some sign that there are higher numbers
of pensioners living in or near Areas of Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks,
including the Cotswolds (seen in more focus in the map below) but particularly around the
coasts, although this is less distinct for Dartmoor, for example.
5.40
There are much lower proportions of population of pensionable age in and around the main
SSCTs. Wiltshire, North Somerset, Bristol and B&NES appear to have relatively low
proportions of population of pensionable age. The more detailed map below looks at the
Cotswolds and shows where there is a coincidence of greater proportion of retired residents in
the AONB area.
55
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Figure 5-13: Map for ‘Demography & geography’ theme, showing concentrations of people of
pensionable age, and AONBs/National Parks (local example)
Key: Proportion of population of pensionable age; Blue = >30% of population. SSCTs = Red dots. AONBs = Pale green
hatching; National Parks = Dark green hatching.
5.41
Taken together, it is apparent that, whilst much of the region has experienced population
growth, there are particular areas of recent population loss mainly in rural areas, but notably
also in Swindon, Poole and Bournemouth. There is some evidence of clustering amongst the
region’s older population around AONBs and National Parks; and areas of population loss
appear to coincide with areas with relatively high concentrations of population of pensionable
age, at least in much of the southern part of the region.
Labour market
5.42
The maps below illustrate two key facets of the region’s labour market: the concentrations of
working age population and average distance travelled to work.
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Figure 5-14: Map for ‘Labour market’ theme, showing concentrations of working age population
Key: Proportion of population of working age. Light green = 27-55% ; Dark green = 55-60% ; Blue = >60%
5.43
The map above shows those areas with the highest concentration of working age population
(in blue) and areas with lesser concentration (in dark green and then light green). Those areas
with the highest proportions of population of working age are to be found in the largest
settlements in the region. However, there are also some interesting patterns of high
proportions of working population across the region, which appear to follow ‘spines’ – for
example through the middle of Cornwall and Devon, with higher concentrations of
‘dependents’ (i.e. those not of working age) towards the coasts of North Somerset, South
Devon and Dorset. The M4 corridor also appears to show a band of high proportions of
working-age population, running into the South East region (see zoomed map below).
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Figure 5-15: Map for ‘Labour market’ theme, showing concentrations of working age population (local
example)
Key: Proportion of population of working age. Light green = 27-55% ; Dark green = 55-60% ; Blue = >60%. Motorways =
black line
Figure 5-16: Map for ‘Labour market’ theme, showing average distance travelled to work
Key: Yellow = >20km ; Light brown = 10-20kms ; Dark brown = <10kms. Roads: Blue = motorways; Red = A-roads
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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5.44
The map above shows average distance to work, with those areas with lowest distance to
work (less than 10km) in dark brown, medium distance to work in light brown (10-20km) and
greatest distance in yellow (>20km). This has been overlaid with the road network to see how
the distance travelled relates to major road accessibility. Unsurprisingly, there is clear
clustering around the main towns of population who do not have long commutes. There is
also a clear indication of commuting zones around many of the main settlements in the
region. The most rural areas, including much of central Devon, east Cornwall and the
western tip of Cornwall demonstrate much higher average distances travelled to work.
5.45
However, there are pockets in some rural areas or around relatively smaller towns with very
low average distances travelled. These include around the military camps of the Salisbury
Plain and in Blandford, but also around Glastonbury/Street in Somerset and Bideford in
Devon. On the other hand, there are larger numbers of middle-distance commuters living in
Plymouth, where shorter travelling distances might have been expected.
5.46
Across the region, there are relatively high concentrations of working-age population in and
around the main towns and cities, but also in particular ‘bands’ including most noticeably to
the east of Bristol along the M4 corridor. Those living in the most rural areas tend to have
longer average commutes, despite there being greater instances of self-employment, whilst
the military garrison areas are typified by shorter commute distances.
Skills
5.47
Skills data are available at a range of different levels and qualifications. Here we present areas
with particularly high concentrations of high and low skilled residents (including a
comparison with average household income), as well as picking out those areas with the
lowest GCSE scores to examine any patterns emerging.
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Figure 5-17: Map for ‘Skills’ theme, showing areas with high skills (average of >30% with NVQ4+, 200608) and areas of low skills (average >10% of population having no qualifications, 2006-08)
Key: Areas with >10% of population having no qualifications (2006-08 average) = hatched; Areas with >30% of population
having NVQ4+ (2006-08 average) =green.
5.48
In the map above we have looked at those areas with higher concentrations of residents with
no qualifications (hatched) together with those areas where qualifications are highest (i.e.
areas where more than 30% of residents have NVQ 4+, shaded in green). We have used two
different symbologies because these areas overlap (i.e. areas with high concentrations of both
residents with no qualifications and residents with high qualifications), so it is useful to be
able to see those areas where there are overlaps.
5.49
There are concentrations of people with no formal qualifications in Cornwall, Somerset and
Dorset, Poole, Plymouth and Bristol. There are concentrations of highly qualified residents in
much of eastern Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, B&NES, North and West Dorset
and South Hams (Devon). Both West Dorset and Bristol exhibit populations with polarised
skills profiles – with relatively high concentrations of both groups.
60
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-18: Map for ‘Skills’ theme, showing areas with lowest GCSE scores
Key: GCSE scores of less than 675 = Green
5.50
The map shows areas with the lowest GCSE scores, with scores below 675 shaded in green.
There are relatively high concentrations in east Cornwall/West Devon and in eastern
Wiltshire. The area around Bristol is expanded below, showing the ‘doughnut’ effect of low
GCSE scores around the edge of Bristol and into south Gloucestershire.
61
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-19: Map for ‘Skills’ theme, showing areas with lowest GCSE scores (local example)
Key: GCSE scores of less than 675 = Green
Figure 5-20: Map for ‘Skills’ theme, showing average weekly household income along with
concentrations of population with no qualifications
Key: Areas with >10% of population having no qualifications (2006-08 average) = hatched; Average weekly household income:
Light green = £400-£600 per week ; Dark green = £600-£700 p.w. ; Blue = >£700 p.w.
62
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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5.51
The map above explores the coincidence of lower household incomes and lack of
qualifications. In this map we have used different symbology for the two datasets to be able
to represent both on a single map. Those areas where there is the highest concentration of
population with no qualification is hatched, whilst the colours are used to show variations in
average weekly household income, with blue showing the highest levels of income (>£700
p.w.), dark green showing lesser incomes (£600-£700 p.w.), and lighter green showing lowest
incomes (£400-£600 p.w.). Most of Cornwall and much of North Devon, along with large
parts of Bristol, have a concentration of both unqualified population and the lowest levels of
average weekly household income.
5.52
There is some consistency between areas with low average qualifications and low average
household income. Whilst there are pockets of low skills and low wages in Bristol and
Gloucester for example, the highest skill levels coincide with the highest average incomes in
the east of the region. There are concentrations of people with no formal qualifications in
Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, Poole, Plymouth and Bristol, and of low GCSE scores in east
Cornwall / West Devon and in eastern Wiltshire.
Economic inclusion
5.53
This section examines several key representations of economic inclusion: concentrations of
deprivation and benefit claimants, and economic (in)activity, as well as a representation of
average weekly household income across the region.
Figure 5-21: Map for ‘Economic Inclusion’ theme, showing economic inactivity rates
Key: Economic inactivity rates: Blue = high (>20 %); Dark green = medium (16 – 20 %); Light green = low (<16 %)
63
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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5.54
The map above shows data collected at local authority level rather than LSOA level. The
highest rates of economic inactivity are coloured in blue (>20%), with 16-20% inactivity
coloured in dark green, and the lowest levels (<16%) in light green. The map above shows
that the highest rates of economic inactivity are centred around the region’s larger settlements
(Plymouth, Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth) as well as throughout Cornwall and northwest
Devon, Torbay, northwest Somerset, B&NES, west Gloucestershire and east Dorset.
Figure 5-22: Map for ‘Economic Inclusion’ theme, showing concentrations of deprivation and of benefit
claimants
Key: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD, 2007) score: Green = low (<10); Blue = medium (10-20); Red = high (>20). Benefit
claimant concentrations (see description below) Pink hatching= medium (0.02 – 0.03) ; Brown = high (>0.03)
5.55
The map above shows Index of Deprivation - overall score (IMD) 2007 (with red showing the
highest IMD scores, blue showing medium and green showing the lowest scores). It also
shows claimant count (March 2010) data divided by working age population (population
estimates in mid 2008) to give a measure of claimant count concentration, which is
represented by pink hatching for medium levels and brown hatching for high levels. Again,
different symbologies have been used for different layers to distinguish between them.
5.56
The red areas depict the areas with the highest IMD scores, which include much of Cornwall,
West Devon and north west Somerset, as well as pockets of southern Dorset, Poole and
Bournemouth, and parts of Bristol. Combined with the layer showing high concentrations of
benefit claimants, there are several areas of concentrated deprivation spread across the region,
and circled in the map above.
64
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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5.57
A zoomed-in map of the area around Torbay and south Exeter (below) illustrates the
coincidence of high concentrations of benefit claimants in the most deprived areas of this part
of the region.
Figure 5-23: Map for ‘Economic Inclusion’ theme, showing concentrations of deprivation and of benefit
claimants (local example)
Key: Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD, 2007) score: Green = low (<10); Blue = medium (10-20); Red = high (>20). Benefit
claimant concentrations (see description below) Pink hatching= medium (0.02 – 0.03) ; Brown = high (>0.03)
65
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-24: Map for ‘Economic inclusion’ theme, showing weekly household income
Key: Light green = £400-£600 per week ; Dark green = £600-£700 p.w. ; Blue = >£700 p.w.
5.58
The map above shows household income data as a single layer (which has already been
shown in combination with lack of qualifications, above). In this single layer map those areas
with lowest household income are shown in light green, medium incomes in dark green, and
highest incomes in blue. There is a clear pattern of higher average household income in the
east of the region, notably in large parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, east Dorset and
much of the West of England Partnership area around Bristol. Devon and Cornwall,
including Torbay and Plymouth have significantly lower average household incomes, with
pockets of high income in the commuter belt around Plymouth, for example. Bournemouth
and Bristol also have relatively low average household incomes.
5.59
The highest rates of economic inactivity coincide with the patterns of higher deprivation and
benefit claimants, as well as lower household incomes. These are particularly focused around
the region’s larger settlements (Plymouth, Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth), as well as
throughout large parts of Cornwall and Devon. We have drawn some lines on this map to
give a simple indication of how the region could be broken down into fairly distinctive zones
based on these data.
Natural environment
5.60
This section illustrates the natural environment of the region, and compares it with the value
of tourism to illustrate the hypothesis that the natural assets of the region drive the tourist
economy.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-25: Map for ‘Natural environment’ theme, showing distribution of National Parks (dark green)
and AONBs
Key: Dark green = National Parks ; Light Green = AONBs
5.61
The map above shows national parks shaded in dark green and AONBs shaded in lighter
green. The South West is renowned for its natural beauty, and contains two National Parks –
shown above in dark green – Dartmoor and Exmoor. Large parts of the region are designated
as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), including the Cotswolds and much of the
region’s coastline. The map below explores how these areas of natural beauty might impact
on the tourist economy, by combining these layers with data on the value of tourism and
concentration of employment in Distribution, Hotels & Catering. Tourism spend is
represented by shading from dark pink (for highest levels of tourism spend), through light
pink to yellow (lowest level of tourism spend). Areas with a high concentration of
employment in Distribution, Hotels & Catering (more than 40%) are shaded in blue. Despite
all of these layers using colours as a symbology, it is possible to make out patterns in the map
below.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-26: Map for ‘Natural environment’ theme, showing Value of Tourism (by county),
concentrations of employment in the Distribution, Hotels & Restaurant sectors, and AONBs/National
Parks
Key: Counties shaded by value of tourism (Dark Pink = >£334m; Light Pink = £100m - £334m ; Yellow = <£100m ); AONBs
and National Parks cross-hatched in green. Proportion of employees in Distribution, Hotels & Restaurants higher than 40 %
shaded in Blue.
5.62
The upper-tier authorities with the highest value of tourism (above £334m annually) are
focused in the west, with Cornwall, Devon and Dorset being joined by Bristol (city) and
Gloucestershire in the north of the region. Authority areas with smaller tourism income
include North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Poole, Swindon and Plymouth.
5.63
There are clear correlations between the authorities with the highest value of tourism income
and employment in the distribution, hotels and restaurants sectors (used here as a proxy for
tourism). Clear clusters of employment intensity in these sectors are apparent in well-known
holiday destinations, including both coasts of Cornwall, the south Devon coast (expanded as a
local example below), Jurassic coast and the English Riviera around Torbay. Other clusters
are apparent in the north of the region around the Cotswolds and Bristol/Bath.
5.64
Whilst Bristol is amongst the authorities with the highest value from its tourist industry, large
parts of the region which are designated as Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB), including the
Cotswolds and much of the region’s coastline, which can be seen to coincide with clustering
of those sectors which best represent the tourist industry. Cornwall, one of the most deprived
authorities, also has one of the highest value tourist industries in the region.
5.65
The map below shows a zoom into this map in the South Hams and South Devon area.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-27: Map for ‘Natural environment’ theme, showing Value of Tourism (by county),
concentrations of employment in the Distribution, Hotels & Restaurant sectors, and AONBs/National
Parks (local example)
Key: Counties shaded by value of tourism (Dark Pink = >£334m; Light Pink = £100m - £334m ; Yellow = <£100m ); AONBs
and National Parks cross-hatched in green. Proportion of employees in Distribution, Hotels & Restaurants higher than 40 %
shaded in Blue
Transport infrastructure
5.66
This section presents some of the key transport infrastructure within the region, including
main roads (motorways, A-roads) and rail. We overlay areas with poor access to two key
services (GP and primary school) to illustrate any identifiable patterns at the level of the
region.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-28: Map for ‘Transport infrastructure’ theme, showing main roads (motorways and A-roads), rail
and access to nearest GP and primary school
Key: Transport: Motorway = blue ; A-roads = red ; Rail = thick dashed line. Access to services: grey (Access to nearest GP
>1km = grey ; Access to nearest primary school = red)
5.67
The map shows that transport connections (with a focus on motorways, road and rail) are
much denser in the east of the region. Nonetheless, there are still parts of the east of the
region which have limited access to primary schools and GPs. In Devon and Cornwall, those
areas with the poorest access to key services tend to be further away from the main road
network.
Housing
5.68
This section presents a map of one of the key housing indicators for the local economic
assessment, housing affordability – a measure reflecting the ratio of house prices to average
earnings.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-29: Map for ‘Housing’ theme, showing housing affordability
Key: Housing affordability: Pink = high (<7.5) ; Dark pink = medium (7.5 – 9) ; Red = low (9 – 11.2)
5.69
The map shows the 2009 lower quartile affordability ratio (SW Councils), with highest ratios
(i.e. lowest affordability) shown in red, medium levels in dark pink, and lowest ratios (i.e.
highest affordability) in light pink. The areas with the lowest affordability are throughout
much of Devon, west and east Dorset, northwest Somerset and east Gloucestershire. This
coincides with proximity to the national parks and several key AONBs, including the
Cotswolds.
‘Place’
5.70
This section examines some of the key aspects of ‘designation’ or formal allocations of
particular areas which help to define ‘place’, including brownfield land, growth areas and
eco-towns. We examine coincidence of brownfield land with growth areas, as well as key
transport routes.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-30: Map for ‘Place’ theme, showing Brownfield land, Growth Areas, SSCTs
Key: Blue – Brownfield land; Brown – Growth areas; Red circles – SSCTs; Blue/Red Lines – Motorways / A-roads
5.71
The region has 21 SSCTs (red circles on this map). These are mostly in and around the
designated ‘growth points’ (brown areas).
5.72
The map also shows (in blue) the locations of brownfield land designated for development. A
broad spread of brownfield land exists across the South West, with heaviest concentrations in
Cornwall, Somerset, and in the Growth Area around Bristol. Brownfield land tends to be
clustered around the SSCTs, and/or Growth Areas. However, there appears to be a significant
swathe of brownfield land throughout Dorset and Somerset which is neither within a SSCT or
a Growth Point (except for Yeovil; 1), and a large part of northern Devon and Cornwall which
has very little designated brownfield land (2).
5.73
Even more apparent is the clustering around major roads, providing easy access to these
potential development areas.
5.74
The map below presents a local example, focused on mid-Cornwall. The clustering of
brownfield land around Camborne, Pool and Redruth (CPR) is clear. The proposed Imerys
Clay country eco-town development(s) is highlighted in green.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Figure 5-31: Map for ‘Place’ theme, showing Brownfield land, Growth Areas, SSCTs, Eco-towns (local
example)
Key: Blue – Brownfield land; Brown – Growth areas; Red circles – SSCTs; Blue/Red Lines – Motorways / A-roads. Proposed
eco-towns = Green.
Analysis by Upper Tier Authority
5.75
To take the analysis to a lower geographical level, we have carried out a high-level review of
the above themes for the sixteen upper tier authorities to identify some important messages
that can be investigated further by local authorities using the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
to inform their LEAs. This is not meant to be a comprehensive assessment of each area, but
suggests areas for further investigation.
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5.76
This sub-region analysis has been carried out for several of the sample projects (or maps) provided on the DVD. When examining these maps, it is important
to note that areas of apparently high levels of activity or concentration (e.g. covering large areas of the map) may simply reflect the different shapes/sizes of
administrative geographies. In particular, the more rural areas tend to have low population densities, and so a single LSOA (Lower Super Output Area) 29
may cover a large surface area and appear to be over-represented visually on the map. When examining the maps below therefore, we have taken two factors
into consideration which may be helpful for users when carrying out further analysis:
•
first, the maps have in general been drawn with boundaries removed between administrative areas for the data presented at lower level geographies
(e.g. LSOAs), to show patterns more clearly. For analysis, we have turned on the boundaries (right-click the layer; select Properties; change ‘Outline’
for relevant layer and/or bands to be examined) so as to examine whether large areas covered represent one or more administrative areas
•
second, where clustering is less apparent, we have altered the thresholds for bandings to identify stronger patterns.
Table 5-1: Sub-regional description of employment clusters for selected sectors of the economy
Cornwall UA
Structure of economy:
Transport &
Communication (>10%
employment)
Structure of economy: Public admin,
education & health
Structure of economy:
Manufacturing (>20%
employment)
Structure of economy: Services
(including Banking & Finance, and
Other Services; each >25%
employment)
Structure of economy:
Agriculture & Fishing (>5%
employment)
Transport focus around
Liskeard (particularly to
south), and between
Truro and Redruth
Strong public sector clusters around
Truro, Camborne and Redruth with
many LSOAs having >50% employment
in the sector.
Manufacturing accounts for
>20% employment in parts of
Cornwall, particularly at certain
points around the A30 trunk
road.
Banking and finance clusters around
Redruth and Truro, as well as to the east
near Plymouth (e.g. Saltash).
A bank of >5% employment
in agriculture runs roughly
north-south close to the A39
to the north of Truro.
Also at Helston and Falmouth, Bodmin,
St.Austell and Liskeard.
Isles of Scilly
UA
29
Transport & comms a
major employer
Functional linkages at Saltash &
Torpoint with Plymouth.
For example, in a band from
Camelford to Launceston, to the
south of Launceston and up into
Devon, to the south and
southwest of Bodmin, and
between Falmouth & Redruth.
No strong pattern
No strong pattern
Other services clustered around A30,
including pockets at Bodmin and
Launceston, as well as in the far
southeast, between Liskeard and
Plymouth.
No strong pattern
Another area of focus in the
northeast of the Unitary,
which appears functionally
similar to much of northwest
Devon.
Agriculture accounts for more
than 5% of employment
across the Isles of Scilly.
NB: LSOAs have between 1000 and 3000 people living in them with an average population of 1,500 people
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Devon
County
Structure of economy:
Transport &
Communication (>10%
employment)
Structure of economy: Public admin,
education & health
Structure of economy:
Manufacturing (>20%
employment)
Structure of economy: Services
(including Banking & Finance, and
Other Services; each >25%
employment)
Structure of economy:
Agriculture & Fishing (>5%
employment)
Clear M5 Transport
corridor, from Exeter
northeast past Tiverton
into Somerset.
Strong representation of this sector in
the main towns and along the south
coast in particular.
There are higher proportions of
employment in manufacturing
around Plymouth to the north
and east (and extending into
Saltash in Cornwall), around
Bideford and Barnstaple in the
north, and in parts of Tiverton.
There are also several
manufacturing locations around
the M5.
A thin cluster of areas dependent on
banking & finance appears to exist
between Honiton in the southeast and
Barnstaple in the northwest.
Pockets of relatively heavy
employment in agriculture in
the northwest (west of
Bideford, north of
Okehampton); to the west
and south of Exeter (towards
Torbay); and in the rural
areas around Honiton and
Tiverton – stretching into
Somerset.
Eastern Exeter transport
hub along A30 towards
airport
Functional linkages with Plymouth in
surrounding LSOAs.
Heavy clustering around Dawlish,
Teignmouth & Newton Abbott in the
south, and Bideford & Barnstaple in the
north.
Largest concentration of banking/finance
employment in central Exeter and in a
band to the immediate south of Exeter,
with other small clusters further south
(Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton).
Another strong clustering in Exeter
throughout the city, with particularly
high proportions around the edges of
the city centre.
City of
Plymouth
UA
Transport employment
clustered around main
roads (e.g. A379), and
particularly ringing the
city centre
An extremely strong sector, supporting
>50% employment across much of the
city. Functional linkages to Saltash &
Torpoint
Manufacturing clusters
apparent in the north of the city,
stretching into surrounding
parts of Devon.
Banking & Finance sector is a major
employer in parts of the centre of town,
with other services well-represented in
other parts of Plymouth.
No strong pattern
Torbay UA
No strong pattern
An extremely strong sector, supporting
>50% employment across much of
Torquay and Paignton.
No strong pattern
Parts of Torquay and Paignton support
jobs in the banking & finance sector, with
other services to the south of Paignton,
running into Devon county.
No strong pattern
Dorset
County
Main transport around
B’mouth intl airport
As with many counties, a strong sector.
Particular clusters around Dorchester,
Weymouth and Portland in the south,
and around Shaftesbury and Blandford
Forum in the north.
Parts of north Dorset (e.g.
around Sherborne) may link
functionally to the
manufacturing clusters in South
Somerset.
Pockets of areas with high proportions of
employment in Banking & Finance to the
east of Dorchester, around Wimborne and
in the Cranborne Chase.
There is a band stretching
west from Blandford Forum
towards Beaminster and then
south to the coast with strong
representation of
employment in agriculture
Parts of eastern Dorset (e.g.
around Wareham and
Wimborne) may link to the
manufacturing clusters in Poole.
Another manufacturing cluster
Other pockets in the east may be linked
to Ringwood, and in Christchurch may be
functionally linked to Bournemouth and
Poole.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Structure of economy:
Transport &
Communication (>10%
employment)
Structure of economy: Public admin,
education & health
Structure of economy:
Manufacturing (>20%
employment)
Structure of economy: Services
(including Banking & Finance, and
Other Services; each >25%
employment)
Structure of economy:
Agriculture & Fishing (>5%
employment)
is apparent in Christchurch.
Bournemout
h UA
No strong pattern
Significant sector throughout the
authority, and strong linkage with Poole.
No strong pattern
Banking & Finance makes up more than
25% of employment for much of south
Bournemouth.
No strong pattern
Poole UA
Transport sector hub to
north of town, along
main roads
Strong clustering of the sector around
the town centre, and strong functional
linkage with Bournemouth.
Manufacturing cluster apparent
in the northern fringe of town
Banking & Finance makes up more than
25% of employment for several parts of
the UA, in the south and around the
edges of the urban area.
No strong pattern
Somerset
County
Transport hub around
Shepton Mallet and
north linked to B&NES.
Heavy clustering in south and west
Taunton. Other clusters apparent in
Burnham on Sea, Bridgwater, Bruton
and to the west of Yeovil.
Significant clusters of
manufacturing employment are
apparent across the county – in
the southwest between Taunton
and Yeovil (including around
Chard, Crewkerne and
Ilminster); around the M5
corridor north of Bridgwater.
Pockets of strong employment
representation in the Banking & Finance
sectors exist in Taunton, Burnham on Sea
and Frome, and around the A303 at
South Petherton and Martock.
Agriculture employs >5% of
the workforce across most of
Exmoor and between
Bridgwater and
Wiveliscombe, possibly
functionally similar to east
Devon.
M5 corridor: around
Bridgwater & Taunton,
southwards to Devon
There is also a band
stretching from Taunton to
Shepton Mallet with strong
representation of
employment in agriculture.
Other clusters in Wellington,
around Bruton and around
Frome (possibly linking
functionally to MN-R in B&NES)
Bath & North
East
Somerset
UA
Functional linkages with
transport hub in
Somerset in south
(Paulton & Radstock)
A strong sector in the east of the
authority area, particularly in the north
and southern fringes of Bath.
Manufacturing clusters in the
west of Bath, around Midsomer
Norton & Radstock (possibly
linking functionally to Frome),
and Keynsham (possibly linking
functionally to South Bristol).
Banking & Finance make up >25% of
employment across large parts of central
Bath and to the south of the city, with
other pockets in the rural area around
Keynsham and in the far west of the
authority.
No strong pattern
City of
Bristol UA
Around Avonmouth, part
of M4/M5 Transport
hub, linked to S.Gloucs
and N. Somerset
Large swathes of public sector
employment across South Bristol and in
the northern fringes into South
Gloucestershire as well as in the east.
Areas of high dependence on
manufacturing employment in
Avonmouth, around the M5, as
well as parts of South and East
Bristol.
Most of central Bristol has >25%
employment in the Finance & Banking
sectors, extending to large parts of north
Bristol and isolated parts of south Bristol.
No strong pattern
Also clusters around
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Structure of economy:
Transport &
Communication (>10%
employment)
Structure of economy: Public admin,
education & health
Structure of economy:
Manufacturing (>20%
employment)
Structure of economy: Services
(including Banking & Finance, and
Other Services; each >25%
employment)
Structure of economy:
Agriculture & Fishing (>5%
employment)
M32 and A38
North
Somerset
UA
Clear M4/M5 Transport
hub, linked to Bristol
and S.Gloucs
Clusters at Weston-s-Mare, Nailsea and
Portishead.
Clusters of manufacturing
employment following much of
the M5 corridor through the
local authority, including around
Portishead and Clevedon
Clusters of banking & finance
employment around Nailsea, Weston and
Clevedon. Part of the banking & finance
cluster in the authority area in the east
may be linked functionally to Bristol.
No strong pattern
Swindon UA
N.Swindon transport
industry located around
railway lines, to north
and west of town centre,
linked to east Wiltshire
A cluster in the south and a cluster in
the north of the city are apparent.
Manufacturing clusters in the
east and the far west of the
borough.
Banking & Finance is a major
employment sector in the central and
west of the town.
No strong pattern
Wiltshire UA
Transport hub along
railway in north:
Bradford-ChippenhamWootton Bassett,
perhaps linked to South
Gloucestershire
Particular focus in and around
Trowbridge and Salisbury urban
centres.
Particular dependence on
manufacturing in the western
part of the county, for example
around Westbury and
Warminster, around Devizes
and Melksham stretching to the
east of Bradford-on-Avon.
Strong clusters of employment in banking
& finance in the north of the UA (e.g.
around Chippenham); in Bradford-onAvon and to the west (which is likely to be
functionally linked to B&NES); between
Westbury and Frome (Somerset); in
Salisbury and to the east (possibly
functionally linked to parts of Hampshire).
No strong pattern
Also around Bulford and Larkhill.
Also in west Salisbury
along A36
South
Gloucesters
hire UA
Clear M4/M5 Transport
hub, linked to Bristol
and N. Somerset
South of the authority area has very
similar levels of public sector
employment to the north and east of
Bristol.
No strong pattern
Particular clusters in Banking & Finance
around Thornbury and to the south, in the
northern fringe of Bristol and around Yate.
No strong pattern
Gloucesters
hire
Transport zone around
River Severn and into
Gloucester
Strongest clusters around Cheltenham
(esp to the west) and Gloucester (to the
north and east). Other clustering around
Stroud and Cirencester.
Areas of relatively high
dependence on manufacturing
sector in and around M5
corridor, particularly to the
south of Stroud, parts of
Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Also much of the north of the
authority area, stretching
northeast from Cheltenham,
A band of strong employment in banking
and finance exists between Gloucester
and Cheltenham, continuing to the east.
There is a band stretching to
the east of Stroud with
relatively strong
representation of
employment in agriculture
(>5%).
Other pockets exist around the edges of
Stroud and in / around Cirencester.
Other areas of strong employment in this
sector in the north (e.g. around Stow on
the Wold) may be functionally linked with
77
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Structure of economy:
Transport &
Communication (>10%
employment)
Structure of economy: Public admin,
education & health
Structure of economy:
Manufacturing (>20%
employment)
Structure of economy: Services
(including Banking & Finance, and
Other Services; each >25%
employment)
possibly linking functionally with
parts of Worcestershire.
neighbouring authority areas.
Structure of economy:
Agriculture & Fishing (>5%
employment)
Source: SQW analysis using Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Table 5-2: Sub-regional description of other data layers
Cornwall UA
Enterprise & Innovation: IDBR unit size 0-4 (>80%;
>90%); Knowledge economy
Demography & Geography: % population of pension
age; % population of working age; population growth;
ave weekly household income
Labour market / Demog & Geog: ave distance to
work:
Areas with highest proportions of micro-businesses
include: the western tip of Cornwall, patches in the centre
– mostly those furthest away from A-roads, and most of
the eastern end of the UA, extending into western Devon.
Parts of the UA have >90% - e.g. in Bodmin, north of
Launceston and several LSOAs in CPR.
Significant stretches of LSOAs with >30% population of
pensionable age, particularly along the southern coast
from Looe to the Lizard.
A large part of east Cornwall has to travel more than
20km to work on average, as well as the far west.
Pockets of knowledge economy clustering on outskirts of
Truro, Falmouth and Redruth. Also at St. Austell and
Wadebridge. Most of the area between Newquay &
Bodmin, north to Wadebridge and south to St. Austell has
very low levels of knowledge economy.
Areas of highest population growth were around Helston
and Redruth in the west, and central Cornwall including
Bodmin and St. Austell.
Highest weekly household income is in the southeast
corner of Cornwall, linked to the Plymouth commuter belt
extending into Devon.
Most of the northeast of Cornwall, down as far as (but not
including) Bodmin has high self-employment (>20%) and
a high proportion of people (>25%) working from home.
Isles of Scilly
UA
>80% of business units in Isles of Scilly have <4
employees; a high proportion of residents (>25%) are
self-employed, and almost 1 in 4 work from home. Low
levels of knowledge economy (<10%).
Isles of Scilly lost population between 2001 - 2008.
No strong pattern
Devon
County
Devon contains a large proportion of the LSOAs in the
region with >25% self-employment rates; particularly
strong in the east (around Exmoor) and to the east of
Honiton; parts of Dartmoor and south of Totnes. Lowest
Most of the county experienced significant housing
growth, particularly in and around Exeter, stretching down
towards Torbay.
Much of central and west Devon is similar to east
Cornwall in demonstrating high average distances
travelled to work.
Highest weekly household incomes are found in the
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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Enterprise & Innovation: IDBR unit size 0-4 (>80%;
>90%); Knowledge economy
Demography & Geography: % population of pension
age; % population of working age; population growth;
ave weekly household income
levels of self-employment in LSOAs in central and
outskirts of Exeter.
commuter belt surrounding Plymouth, and to the SE of
Exeter. The lowest incomes are along much of the
southern coast (functionally linked to Torbay), as well as
most of the northern half of Devon.
This pattern mostly coincides with levels of homeworking; large parts of the county are characterised by
high proportions (>20%) of people working from home
(particularly north of Dartmoor and up to Exmoor).
Several parts of Exeter, and several LSOAs around
Newton Abbott and Kingsteinton have > 90% micro
businesses.
Labour market / Demog & Geog: ave distance to
work:
The south coast also displays a dominance of pensioners
(>30% of the population), as well as the area around
Bideford in the north and in east Devon extending
northwards into Exmoor.
City of
Plymouth
UA
Low levels of self-employment throughout Plymouth, with
lowest levels around perimeter of city centre. Several
LSOAs in the north and east of the urban area with >90%
of the business stocks micro-businesses; both similar to
levels at the edge of Saltash in Cornwall.
Plymouth is typified by a high proportion of working-age
population, and particularly in the city centre, low average
weekly household incomes for most of the city, as well as
high rates of population growth.
No strong pattern
Torbay UA
Although the area is characterised by very low levels of
home-working (mostly <10%), in much of the area around
and between Paignton and Taunton >80% of businesses
are micro-enterprises.
Torbay experienced significant population growth (>10%)
across much of the urban parts of the UA from 2001-08, a
pattern which extends beyond Torbay up to Exeter.
No strong pattern
Pockets of knowledge economy concentration (>10% of
businesses) to the west and south of Paignton – linking
with an area in Devon to the east of Totnes.
Dorset
County
Several pockets of knowledge economy activity in the
east, potentially linked to Poole and Bournemouth.
High proportions of home-working (>25%) in the far west
of the county, linking to areas with similarly high rates in
east Devon. Similarly, high levels of self-employment
(>20%) in the far west, and in the north around
Gillingham, linking with parts of rural east Somerset.
Torbay has amongst relatively low household incomes,
similar to much of the rest of the south Devon coast.
East Dorset and Christchurch experienced higher rates of
population growth, perhaps linked to proximity to Poole
and Bournemouth.
No strong pattern
Dorset has high proportions of pensioners in the far west
(linked to Devon), in the north (bordering Somerset)
particularly around Sherborne, around Swanage and in
the far east of the county (linked to Hants).
Most of the west of the county, extending to the north and
west of Dorchester, has >80% micro-enterprises.
Bournemout
h UA
Large parts of Bournemouth with >80% micro-businesses,
several parts in the north with >90%. Knowledge
Bournemouth and Poole are both typified by large areas
of low average household income; both gained population
No strong pattern
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Enterprise & Innovation: IDBR unit size 0-4 (>80%;
>90%); Knowledge economy
Demography & Geography: % population of pension
age; % population of working age; population growth;
ave weekly household income
economy clusters (>10% of businesses) around edge of
town, no particular link apparent to HEI.
around the town centres, but lost population at the
outskirts of town. Concentrations of older population
along the coast.
Poole UA
Large parts of Poole with >80% micro-businesses,
several parts with >90%. Most of the urban area has very
low proportions (<8%) working from home.
Bournemouth and Poole are both typified by large areas
of low average household income; both gained population
around the town centres, but lost population at the
outskirts of town. Concentrations of older population
along the coast.
No strong pattern
Somerset
County
High levels of self-employment in rural west, from
Bridgwater to Exmoor – extending into Devon; also in the
far east around Shepton Mallet and to the south of Frome.
These areas are closely matched by patterns of high
levels of home-working. Low levels of both indicators
clustered around Yeovil, Bridgwater and Taunton.
Lowest weekly household incomes are found in the far
west of the county, around Exmoor, similar to low
incomes in east Devon.
Highest average distances travelled to work are in the
west and into Exmoor.
There is a cluster of high proportion (>90%) of microbusinesses around Yeovil.
Bath & North
East
Somerset
UA
Highest rates of population growth 2001-08 were found
on the Devon boundary, in a zone along the A37 and in
several settlements: notably Taunton, Wells and Frome
(and not Yeovil, despite it being a SSCT).
Somerset has concentrations of pensioners towards the
Dorset boundary, surrounding Taunton and then in the
north coast on Bridgwater Bay.
Low levels of home working, with particularly low levels
(<8%) in SW Bath and in MN-R.
A high proportion of pensioners to the east of Bath, linking
to Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire.
Knowledge economy focused in the north of the UA:
particularly pockets throughout Bath.
High rates of population growth throughout much of the
UA, in line with the rest of the West of England
authorities, particularly around MN-R and Bath; some
population loss close to Keynsham.
A band of high proportion of micro-enterprises (>90%) in
the south of Bath.
Labour market / Demog & Geog: ave distance to
work:
No strong pattern
Highest average weekly incomes are found around the
perimeter of the UA.
City of
Bristol UA
Knowledge economy focus in centre and north of City
(with small pockets in South Bristol).
Clustered concentration of micro-enterprises (>90%)
across South Bristol and to the immediate northwest of
the city centre.
Low levels of home working, and very low levels (<5%) of
High proportion of working-age population; high rates of
population growth throughout much of the UA –
particularly around the edge of the city – in line with the
rest of the West of England authorities; some population
loss in South Bristol.
No strong pattern
Average weekly household incomes; high average
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
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North
Somerset
UA
Swindon UA
Enterprise & Innovation: IDBR unit size 0-4 (>80%;
>90%); Knowledge economy
Demography & Geography: % population of pension
age; % population of working age; population growth;
ave weekly household income
self-employment in city centre, and throughout much of
South Bristol, Avonmouth and the far north of the
authority area.
incomes around Redland and north of the city.
Low levels of home working. Very low levels of home
working and of self-employment in eastern edge of
Weston.
High proportions of pensioners on the Somerset boundary
(and Weston) and on the Bristol boundary.
High proportions of micro-enterprises (>90%) in
Portishead and Clevedon.
High rates of population growth throughout much of the
UA, in line with the rest of the West of England
authorities.
Pockets of knowledge economy north of Nailsea and
around Weston-s-M and Clevedon.
High weekly income across most of the UA, with the
exception of Weston-s-M and Clevedon.
Very low levels of working from home throughout urban
area, and of self-employment for much of the urban area.
Large parts of Swindon experienced population loss over
2001-08. There is a cluster of LSOAs with a high % of
pensioners in the south of the town.
Knowledge economy focused in southern edge of town,
perhaps linked to the Bath-Swindon band of activity
through Wiltshire.
Wiltshire UA
Very low levels of self-employment around the camps in
the east Salisbury Plain, and around Warminster.
Pockets of very high proportions (>90%) of microenterprise on the outskirts of some settlements, including
Trowbridge, Warminster, Chippenham, Melksham and
Devizes and Salisbury.
High levels (>10% of businesses) of knowledge economy
along western edge of the UA, linking with Hampshire, as
well as in a band between Bath and Swindon, and in the
north linking into Gloucestershire.
South
Gloucesters
hire UA
Areas of high proportion of knowledge economy in centre
of UA, extending into Gloucestershire in the east.
Low levels of home working.
Labour market / Demog & Geog: ave distance to
work:
No strong pattern
No strong pattern
Low average household income in Swindon itself, is
untypical of the surrounding areas.
Low levels of working age population in the southwest,
bordering Dorset, coinciding with high proportions of
pensioners.
Much of Wiltshire has a long average commute to work
(>20km), with the obvious exception of the Garrison
towns.
Highest rates of population growth in the north of the
county, and a large portion of the county demonstrates a
high average household income, in line with the rest of
the east of the region and into the southeast.
Northern fringe also has a high proportion of working-age
population, and there is a higher proportion throughout
much of the UA compared with B&NES and North
Somerset.
Parts of the northern fringe of Bristol demonstrate low
average distance to work (<10km), along with much of
Bristol.
Highest rates of population growth around the M5
corridor.
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Enterprise & Innovation: IDBR unit size 0-4 (>80%;
>90%); Knowledge economy
Demography & Geography: % population of pension
age; % population of working age; population growth;
ave weekly household income
Labour market / Demog & Geog: ave distance to
work:
High weekly income across most of the UA, with lower
incomes towards Bristol.
Gloucesters
hire
High levels of self-employment in the east of the county
(across much of the Cotswolds).
Band of knowledge economy activity between Gloucester
and Cheltenham (extending further to the east), and
another concentration in the south of the county, from
Stroud and Cirencester southwards, extending into South
Gloucs and north Wiltshire.
High average weekly incomes across much of the south
and east of the county, with lowest incomes between
Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Cotswolds in the east and the south of the county have
high average distances to work (>20km).
High proportions of pensioners between Cheltenham and
Gloucester, to the east of Cheltenham and to the north
and south of Stroud.
No areas of concentrated home-working (>25%)
Source: SQW analysis using Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Table 5-3: Sub-regional description of other data layers
Cornwall UA
Skills: GCSE scores; those with no qualifications;
NVQ3+; NVQ4+
Economic inclusion: economic inactivity; claimant
counts; deprivation score (IMD)
Housing: Median house price; affordability ratio
Cornwall has an average of 10.5% of its population with
no qualifications, one of the highest in the region; this is
similar to neighbouring Plymouth (10.2%) and Torridge
(16.7%).
Cornwall has an average of over 20% of the workforce
economically inactive – in the highest bracket, a pattern
which extends eastwards into Torridge and Plymouth;
claimant counts are also amongst the highest in the
region.
With a median house price of £177k, Cornwall has an
average housing affordability ratio.
Much of the northeast of Cornwall has amongst the
lowest GCSE scores (<675), similar to west Devon.
Torpoint in the southeast is also very similar in this sense
to Plymouth. Camborne/ Redruth also has clusters of low
scores.
Many of the highest average scores (>800) are clustered
in and around Truro and parts of Falmouth.
Cornwall exhibits the highest concentration of the most
deprived LSOAs in the region, particularly in the far west
and in the northeast of the region, spreading over into
northwest Devon. The least deprived area is in the
southeast, on the edges of Saltash and Torpoint, similar
to other parts at the edges of Plymouth.
Isles of Scilly
UA
Isles of Scilly has low GCSE scores, an average score of
668
No strong pattern
No data available
Devon
Torridge district has an average of 16.7% of its population
The districts with the highest level of economic inactivity
Most of the southern half of Devon (except Teignbridge
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
County
Skills: GCSE scores; those with no qualifications;
NVQ3+; NVQ4+
Economic inclusion: economic inactivity; claimant
counts; deprivation score (IMD)
Housing: Median house price; affordability ratio
with no qualifications, the highest in the region; this is
similar to Plymouth (10.2%) and Cornwall (10.1%).
(>20%) are Torridge and Exeter; this is similar to Cornwall
and Plymouth to the west, Torbay and West Somerset to
the east. Mid Devon by contrast has a relatively low rate
of economic inactivity, under 16%.
and the two UAs) are amongst the most expensive
districts for house prices regionally.
West Devon has the lowest GCSE scores, which appears
to link it with east Cornwall. Low average scores are also
found on the north coast and throughout Exeter and
Newton Abbott, and parts of Exmouth.
Some of the highest GCSE scores (>800) are found in the
southeast of the county (south of Honiton and around
Ottery), linking with those found in nearby Dorset and
Somerset.
The highest skilled district is South Hams, with over a
third (35.6%) having NVQ4+; both South Hams and
neighbouring Teignbridge and Exeter have >50% with
NVQ3+.
Claimant count rates are average to low across the
county, with the lowest in South Hams, and then central
Devon from West Devon to Mid Devon and East Devon
(extending eastwards to South Somerset and West
Dorset).
Much of Devon is in the top bracket for affordability (i.e.
least affordable houses). Only Mid-Devon is in the most
affordable bracket and Teignbridge, as with neighbouring
Torbay, has an average housing affordability ratio.
South Hams, Torridge, West Devon and East Devon are
all in the top bracket.
The highest levels of deprivation are found in the north
and west of the county, notably around Barnstaple,
Bideford and Ilfracombe, and bordering Somerset /
Exmoor in the northwest of the county, as well as much of
Dartmoor and west of Okehampton to the Cornwall
boundary.
Pockets of LSOAs with the lowest deprivation scores are
found in the south of the county, notably to the southeast
of Plymouth, to the immediate north and east of Exeter, to
the south of Newton Abbott, and around Exmouth (to the
north), Sidmouth and Ottery.
City of
Plymouth
UA
Torbay UA
Plymouth has a high proportion of LSOAs with low
average GCSE scores, but several in the outskirts with
scores of over 800, similar to nearby parts of Devon (e.g.
Ivybridge).
Plymouth has a high level of economic inactivity (over
20%), similar to Cornwall and Torbay, and claimant
counts are also amongst the highest in the region.
No strong pattern
Torbay has a high level of economic inactivity (over 20%),
similar to Plymouth and Exeter, and has the highest rate
of claimant counts in the region.
Plymouth UA is in the most affordable bracket.
A ring of high levels of deprivation circles the city, with
pockets of the lowest levels appearing in the north of the
city and the far southeast (extending into Devon).
Torbay, as with neighbouring Teignbridge has an average
housing affordability ratio.
Areas of high deprivation are clustered in the urban areas
of Paignton, Brixham and Torquay.
Dorset
County
West and North Dorset have the highest skilled adults
(>50+ with NVQ3+); West Dorset also has a high
proportion (>10%) with no qualification, similar to much of
Weymouth & Portland district and East Dorset both have
a high level of economic inactivity (over 20%), whilst
Purbeck has one of the lowest levels in the region
North Dorset, as with neighbouring Purbeck and Wiltshire
– as well as Poole and Bournemouth – has an average
housing affordability ratio.
83
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Skills: GCSE scores; those with no qualifications;
NVQ3+; NVQ4+
Economic inclusion: economic inactivity; claimant
counts; deprivation score (IMD)
Housing: Median house price; affordability ratio
Somerset.
(14.5%). However, whilst Weymouth & Portland has
some of the highest claimant counts in the region, East
Dorset has one of the lowest (along with most of the rest
of the county further north and west).
East Dorset has the highest affordability ratio (least
affordable housing compared to average salaries).
Dorset has few areas with high levels of multiple
deprivation. Those that exist are predominantly in the
south of the county, around Bridport, Abbotsbury,
Lulworth and Weymouth. Areas with the lowest levels of
deprivation are in the east of the county, notably around
Wimborne and extending south into Poole.
Bournemout
h UA
Bournemouth has a high level of economic inactivity (over
20%), similar to East Dorset, and claimant counts are
amongst the highest in the region. Various clusters of
areas with relatively high deprivation exist in the far north
of the authority and along much of the seafront and main
town area.
Poole and Bournemouth have an average housing
affordability ratio.
Poole UA
Poole has relatively high (11.4%) of population with no
qualifications.
Claimant counts in Poole are amongst the highest in the
region. The north of the UA has low levels of deprivation
(extending north into Dorset) and around Parkstone and
Branksome Park. The highest levels of deprivation are
scattered across the centre of the authority.
Poole and Bournemouth have an average housing
affordability ratio
Somerset
County
South Somerset, West Somerset and Sedgemoor have
relatively high (>10%) proportions of population with no
qualifications.
West Somerset district has the highest level of economic
inactivity in the region (25.7%). However, the highest
level of claimant counts are in Sedgemoor, whilst South
Somerset has the amongst the lowest levels in the region
(extending to North and West Dorset and into Devon).
West Somerset, including Exmoor, has one of the highest
(least affordable) affordability ratios
Areas of the highest deprivation are clustered in the
northwest of the county, around Bridgwater Bay and
Exmoor (extending into mid-east Devon). Other pockets
are found around Bridgwater, Taunton, Highbridge,
Burnham-on-Sea and Glastonbury.
Sedgemoor and South Somerset, linking to North
Somerset UA, have one of the most affordable housing
affordability ratios.
Mendip, as with neighbouring B&NES and North Dorset
has an average housing affordability ratio.
Areas with the lowest deprivation are found in the north
(bordering North Somerset), in the middle and south
(along parts of the A303), and on the edges of Bruton,
Bridgwater and Taunton.
84
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Skills: GCSE scores; those with no qualifications;
NVQ3+; NVQ4+
Economic inclusion: economic inactivity; claimant
counts; deprivation score (IMD)
Housing: Median house price; affordability ratio
Bath & North
East
Somerset
UA
>50% of population has NVQ3+ , as with other parts of
the West of England area (except South Gloucs); and the
UA has <10% with no qualifications, as with other parts of
the West of England area (except Bristol).
B&NES has a high level of economic inactivity (over
20%), similar to Bristol, but some of the lowest claimant
counts in the region.
B&NES, as with neighbouring Mendip, and Wiltshire has
an average housing affordability ratio.
City of
Bristol UA
>50% of population has NVQ3+, as with other parts of the
West of England area (except South Gloucs).
Bristol has a high level of economic inactivity (over 20%),
similar to B&NES, and one of the highest rates of
claimant counts in the region.
Bristol has relatively high (11.6%) of population with no
qualifications.
Much of the UA has relatively low levels of deprivation,
particularly in the east (extending into Wiltshire) and west
(into North Somerset and Somerset). The highest levels
of deprivation are found in Bath (central and to the
southwest at Twerton).
Bristol, as with South Gloucs and North Somerset has
one of the most affordable housing affordability ratios.
Much of the authority exhibits high levels of deprivation,
much like Cornwall, with particular concentrations in south
and east Bristol and in Avonmouth. Pockets of low levels
of deprivation exist to the north of the city around Clifton
and Redland and further north.
North
Somerset
UA
>50% of population has NVQ3+, as with other parts of the
West of England area (except South Gloucs) ; and the UA
has <10% with no qualifications, as with other parts of the
West of England area (except Bristol).
Low levels of deprivation in the east extend into B&NES
and Somerset, whilst other areas of low deprivation are
found around Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead. Most of
Weston-s-Mare exhibits high levels of multiple
deprivation.
North Somerset, as with neighbouring Bristol and
Sedgemoor / South Somerset (Somerset) has one of the
most affordable housing affordability ratios
Swindon UA
The UA has an average of <10% of its population with no
qualifications. Low GCSE scores apparent in the town
centre, with better scores outside town.
Swindon has some of the lowest rates of economic
inactivity in the region (<16%), similar to most of
Gloucestershire, but conversely some of the highest
claimant counts.
Swindon UA is in the most affordable bracket
The east of the authority has relatively low levels of
deprivation, whilst large parts of the urban area –
particularly in the south and west – exhibit relatively high
levels of deprivation.
Wiltshire UA
The UA has an average of <10% of its population with no
qualifications. High GCSE scores (>800) are concentrated
in LSOAs in the southeast, east of Salisbury, bordering
the SE region, and in the far north bordering
Gloucestershire.
Much of the county is amongst the least deprived areas in
the region. Pockets of high levels of deprivation exist in
Salisbury, Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge and
Chippenham. The areas with least deprivation border on
Gloucestershire to the north, B&NES to the west and
Wiltshire, as with neighbouring Mendip, B&NES and North
Dorset has an average housing affordability ratio
85
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Skills: GCSE scores; those with no qualifications;
NVQ3+; NVQ4+
Economic inclusion: economic inactivity; claimant
counts; deprivation score (IMD)
Housing: Median house price; affordability ratio
Hampshire to the east.
South
Gloucesters
hire UA
Gloucesters
hire
Relatively low skilled (just 46.1% of population with
NVQ3+); but the UA has <10% with no qualifications, as
with other parts of the West of England area (except
Bristol).
South Gloucestershire has some of the lowest rates of
economic inactivity in the region (<16%), similar to most
of Gloucestershire.
Higher skills (>50% with NVQ3+) in east of the county.
Just Gloucester has >10% of its population with no
qualifications.
Forest of Dean district in the west has a high level of
economic inactivity (over 20%), whilst the rest of the
county (excluding Gloucester) has some of the lowest
rates in the region (<16%).
Good GCSE results (>800) to the south of Stroud and
towards the Wiltshire boundary, between Cirencester and
Cheltenham and in Cheltenham itself.
The highest claimant counts are in the west (Forest of
Dean) as well as Cheltenham and Gloucester, whilst the
lowest are in the Cotswolds.
South Gloucestershire, as with neighbouring Bristol and
western Gloucestershire has one of the most affordable
housing affordability ratios.
The authority is characterised by low levels of deprivation
throughout with small pockets of high deprivation around
the northern fringe of Bristol and Kingswood.
Gloucestershire is divided roughly in two. The east is
amongst the least affordable in the region, whilst the west
is amongst the most affordable. Indeed, Cotswolds
district has the highest median house price in the region
(£260k).
Most of the county has average levels of deprivation, with
pockets of high deprivation around the urban areas of
Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester (as well as Coleford
and Cinderford in the west).
Source: SQW analysis using Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
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Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
6: Future influences on Functional Economic
Market Areas
Introduction
6.1
This chapter provides high-level advice on how FEMAs and other linkages are developing
over time 30. The section draws on research undertaken in 2004 on potential scenarios for the
South West to 2026 31, on recent socio-economic trends in the South West as set out in the
State of the South West report 32 and on the inputs of stakeholders consulted as part of the
project.
Drivers of change
6.2
Considering the future of social, economic and political systems is uncertain, particularly
today with major areas of uncertainty around the economy, the pace and path of any recovery
from recession and with the future of public finances, with major cuts in government
spending to be announced to reduce the national debt. The South West Scenarios 2026 study
commented that little can be said with certainty about the ways in which societies will
develop. Consequently, considering the future of FEMAs is fraught with uncertainty.
6.3
The scenarios research was undertaken to stimulate thinking about the future of the region.
The research was completed to consider forces of change in the region and plausible scenarios
to 2026 for imaging the future. The research included a comprehensive future research
programme across five themes – society, technology, economy, environment and politics.
The conclusion from this programme was that there is likely to be a continuation and
intensification of existing trends. A summary of some of the key drivers of change identified
in this research is provided in the table below.
Table 6-1: Summary of forces of change in South West Scenarios 2026 research
Forces for change
Description
Economy
•
Expansion of new economy – particularly knowledge based economy
•
Globalisation – closer integration in world and the world economy. Recent
consequences have included off-shoring of production and services, increase in labour
market movement, increased mobility in capital, increased competition
•
Ageing population
•
Increased inequality – view that income inequalities will increase. In part because of
further skill-biased technological changes resulting from the expected growth in
knowledge based economy and freer markets forcing down wages for low-skilled
•
Warming climate – global temperatures expected to increase by between 1 and 3.5
degrees Celsius by 2100.
•
Impacts are hard to predict – but expected to include rising sea levels, increase in
Demography
Climate change
30
This has been written in June 2010 at a time of change in the political and economic landscape of the UK. There
has recently been a change in central government and significant cuts in public spending are taking place. At the
time of writing the implications of these changes are not fully known.
31
Centre for Future Studies, 2004, South West Scenarios 2026
32
South West Observatory, 2010, State of the South West 2010
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Forces for change
Description
extreme weather conditions, changes in crops and wildlife habitats
•
Increase in oil prices
•
Energy security – reduce dependence on importing energy
•
Increased social freedom – view that barriers between groups in society are being
broken down
•
Individualised values – view that people’s values are harder to define e.g. Political
allegiance, stance on important issues
•
Communities based on choice – greater freedom for people to choose which
communities they belong to. People becoming less likely to base their sense of
belonging on where they live or on the extended family
Business
•
Dispersal or concentration – view that expected trend for growth in knowledge based
economy may result in people and business needing more not less proximity
Technology
•
Technological advancements – difficult to predict due to the pace of recent technological
changes. But could include further advancements in communication devises, internet
advancements, remote sensing (e.g. monitoring elderly in home)
Energy
Attitudes and values
Source: SQW Consulting analysis of Centre for Future Studies, 2004, South West Scenarios 2026
State of the South West
6.4
This section discusses some of the recent past trends in issues relevant to understanding the
future of FEMAs in the region. The table below summarises some of the past trends as set
out in the State of the South West report and regional policy. This list is not meant to be
exhaustive but to identify key issues.
Table 6-2: Recent trends in South West performance
Theme
Past trend/ performance
Economy
South West has performed well in terms of real growth in economic output – output and
output per head of population has doubled in the past 25 years
Structural changes to economy – decline of manufacturing and growth in health, retailing,
education and services
Relatively low engagement of businesses in international trade
The larger cities have tended to be the main engines for the regional economy (RES)
Impacts of the economic recession have been felt severely in some of the region’s key
economic centres, including Swindon, Bournemouth and Bristol, with strong contraction in
manufacturing, construction and related business services in 2008 and 2009
Major intra-regional differences across a range of economic performance indicators between
the north and east of the region (strong) and the south and west of the region (weaker).
The north east of the region is better positioned, benefiting from a higher concentration of
more productive industries, a more highly skilled workforce and higher average earnings
than the south and west of the region. Distance to markets is a major barrier for the western
parts of the region
View that businesses in the north and east of the region are more influenced by the
competitive pressures of the region’s neighbours than the more isolated south and west
Labour market
High rates of part-time employment, particularly in rural areas
Relatively high regional economic activity - 82% of residents economically active. However,
33
Cornwall (72.9%), Plymouth (73.2%) and Torbay (73.4%) are below the national average.
The region is comparatively well-qualified - 30% of working age economically active
residents have at least a degree level qualification, the highest outside London and the
33
As set out in Hardwick, S., 2010, State of the South West
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Theme
Past trend/ performance
South East
Skill shortages in some areas – particularly skilled trade occupations and machine operatives
Bristol, Exeter, Swindon and Plymouth within the top 20% of district and unitary authorities in
England with the highest proportions of working age population
Demography
Population growing faster than the English rate
Greater proportion of inhabitants of pensionable age than any other English region, with a
steadily increasing number of retirees and older people moving into the region, and a net
outflow of young people aged 16 to 24
Population growth from inward migration, largely from residents from London and the South
East, but also from the North and the Midlands
Housing
Strong demand for new housing, particularly from single-person households (62% of demand
to 2026) and the elderly. One in three households in 2031 expected to be headed by person
aged 65+
High rates of second home ownership - 2% of the South West housing stock compared to
1% in England
Significant challenges in affordability of housing, especially in some coastal and rural areas
Transport
Relatively high dependency on private car transportation
Increase in congestion
Draft RSS states compared to other regions, the South West has the lowest proportion of
households within a 13 minute walk of an hourly bus service (83% in 2007/8).
The region is travel intensive – with the average person travelling distances ten per cent in
excess of the national average.
Prosperity
South West consistently scores well on measures of wellbeing which include environmental
and social factors
But significant and persistent pockets of deprivation remain
Tourism
Second most popular tourist destination after London
Climate change
Draft RSS states that global warming in the South West has resulted in an increase of the
o
average daily temperature in the region by almost 1.4 C between 1961 and 2006
79,000 properties at serious risk of flooding from rivers or the sea in the South West –
concentred in Devon/ Cornwall and Somerset/ Dorset/ Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire
Carbon dioxide emitters – business & commerce 38%, domestic sector 30% and transport
31% (excluding aviation)
By 2080 inland flooding is expected to increase by four to six times
Urban and rural
Increase in attractiveness of large urban areas as centres for investment (RES)
Ongoing structural changes in rural areas with decline of traditional industries
Dispersed population raises challenges for the delivery of services and access to services for
parts of the population in rural areas
Source: SQW Consulting analysis of State of South West report unless otherwise stated
Stakeholders perceptions on influences on Functional Economic
Market Areas
6.5
The consultation programme explored stakeholders’ views on how FEMAs have changed in
recent years and perceptions on how they may change in the future. The table below provides
a summary of the findings of the consultations.
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Table 6-3: Recent and future influences on FEMAs
Themes
Recent influences on FEMAs
Future influences on FEMAs
Economy/
sectors
•
Spread of knowledge intensive industries
•
Trends expected to continue
•
Increased sector specialism
•
•
Parts of regional economy have suffered
from manufacturing decline
Location of growing/ competitive sectors
e.g. knowledge based economy
•
Effort to develop creative industries,
knowledge intensive sector and services
Increased concentration of employment in
key centres
•
Changes to tourism – increase in demand
for active holidays/ extreme sports
•
Future of agri industry and rural economy
•
Role of Further Education and Higher
Education in education provision e.g.
location of colleges, take-up of further
education, specialism
•
Continuation of ageing population
•
Research &
Education
Demography
Labour markets
Housing
Transport &
infrastructure
•
Congestion on key road routes
•
Pull of economic centres and markets in
South East and London
•
Increased role for research organisations
in economy e.g. links between Higher
Education Institutions and science parks,
innovation centres
•
Increase in students
•
More complex travel to learning flows
•
Ageing population
•
Increased leisure time e.g. increased
travelling, shopping
•
Increase in inequality
•
Increased demand for professional and
service based occupations
•
TTWAs are getting bigger as people travel
more and over longer distances
•
Increased intensity in commuting patterns
•
Some evidence of increased home
working but may not fundamentally
change patterns
•
•
Rising house prices – forcing people to
access jobs further afield
?
•
Housing affordability
•
Transport links influence on economic
development e.g. M5 Corridor zone,
Dorchester – Weymouth road links
•
New transport investment e.g. in West of
England, Devon relief road, Weymouth
relief road
•
Growth in importance of transport
gateways as people travel more often and
further
•
High capacity broadband a major
constraint in areas with poor coverage
•
Impact of increased broadband coverage/
take-up e.g. on retailing, TTWAs, less
dispersed employment, access to
services
•
Recent increases in employment land
may encourage alternate sectors
•
Major development proposals – Bristol
Deep Sea Port, Exeter East, Westonsuper-Mare regeneration
¾
Land use
e.g. location of airports, docks/ferry
ports, motorways and rail access
points
•
Large retail developments – Bristol
Broadmead, Cabot Circus, Cardiff Bay,
Gloucester Key
•
Pressures on availability of employment
land in face of housing demand
•
Shortage of quality employment space to
meet business needs
¾
•
Will change absolute demand and
pattern of demand for services for
elderly population
Trend for increased commuting distance
likely to continue
¾
Long distance daily commuting may
become unsustainable because of
expected fuel price increases and
environmental considerations
Home working expected to increase (as
energy prices increase and broadband
infrastructure improves)
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Themes
Recent influences on FEMAs
Future influences on FEMAs
Administrative
areas
•
•
Uncertainty about future role of RDA
•
Increased sub-regional role e.g. delivery
of services
•
Potential employment losses
•
Over-dependence in parts of the region
on public sector employment
•
Relocation of public sector staff out of
London
•
Risks on public sector projects
•
Changes to service patterns
•
Trends to continue
•
Increased economic opportunities in low
carbon economy
•
Increased risk of flooding
•
Potential impact of rising energy prices on
spatial patterns e.g. TTWAs
•
Increased public investment to support
low carbon economy
Political geography influences on joint
working
Public finances/
expenditure
Globalisation
•
Supply chains more global
•
Off-shoring
•
Rise in the internet & internet shopping
Climate change
Source: SQW Consulting
6.6
A wide range of factors was identified as having influenced FEMAs in recent years. Of most
importance was the growth of the knowledge based economy, the influence of transport on
economic development and commuting habits, with people travelling more often and over
longer distances. Despite the long list of influences on FEMAs, there was also recognition
that FEMAs change relatively slowly. A number of stakeholders said recent patterns, for
example in commuting, had tended to reinforce existing patterns. Weston-super-Mare was
offered as an example of a place where the FEMA has changed but over a long period, with
the town now seen as being part of the Bristol TTWA.
6.7
Stakeholders also expressed views on how they expected FEMAs to change in the future. A
number of trends were expected to continue, although the influence of climate change was
noted in relation to a number of areas. The table includes some potentially contradictory
trends, which may reinforce existing trends (e.g. commuting trends continuing) or challenge
the spatial structure (e.g. increase in home working from spike in energy prices).
Examples of future drivers of change and their implications
6.8
In the table below we draw out some examples of the key drivers of change identified in the
sections above and suggest how they may influence FEMAs in the future 34. The table is not
meant to be predictive about what may happen, but highlights the possible implications of
34
With the caveat that at the time of writing there is rapid change in the socio-economic policy context at national
and sub-national levels, and the extent of these changes and their implications are not known. However, it is likely
that the need for evidence will remain strong and the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool for the South West will be
an important part of the evidence base in the future.
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some examples of the key drivers of change. The purpose of this analysis is to suggest
themes that should be monitored when the boundaries of FEMAs are being considered in the
future. It should be noted that some of the trends and implications contradict each other – but
this is the nature of future gazing.
Table 6-4: Examples of key drivers of change and their implications for FEMAs
Driver of change
Possible implication for FEMAs
Growth of the knowledge economy
Could lead to increase in size of FEMAs in knowledge economy intensive
areas as population grows in response to economic opportunities. Could
lead to strengthening of FEMAs in these areas as knowledge-intensive
economies become more robust.
Structural changes to economy –
decline of manufacturing and growth in
health, retailing, education and
services
Changes in activity and employment in key sectors of the economy will
lead to the re-shaping of FEMA boundaries, with contraction and
weakening in those FEMAs based on declining industries, and growth and
strengthening in those FEMAs based on growing industries.
Improved ICT infrastructure and
connectivity
Opposing predictions have been made about whether greater knowledge
intensity and greater ICT connectivity will lead to a lesser need for face-toface contact to conduct business in the future, or this will remain as
important as it is today. Clearly these opposing patterns will have different
impacts on the shape and size of FEMAs in the future. Whilst opposing,
these patterns are not necessarily contradictory as the way in which
business is conducted may change, to incorporate both more remote
working, combined with regular face-to-face working. This could make
FEMAs larger but weaker.
In the non-business realm improved ICT connectivity may weaken FEMAs
as people participate in leisure activities and retail remotely and so do not
need to be located in close proximity to such facilities.
Increasing congestion on key transport
routes
Could lead to a reduction in long-distance commuting and the growth and
strengthening of FEMAs with high employment concentrations.
Could lead to greater reliance on public transport, hence the evolution of
FEMAs to better map to public transport infrastructure.
Could lead to more home-working, hence weakening of FEMAs
characterised by strong employment centres.
Climate change
Higher risks in certain areas (e.g. coastal areas) may lead to population
contraction and consequential shrinkage of FEMAs
Increased energy costs
Could lead to greater reliance on public transport, hence the evolution of
FEMAs to better map to public transport infrastructure.
Could lead to greater home-working, hence breakdown of commuting
relationships to urban areas, and consequential contraction or re-shaping
of FEMAs.
Steadily increasing number of retirees
and older people moving into the
region, and a net outflow of young
people aged 16 to 24
Relative importance of the drivers of FEMAs likely to change, with
functions such as healthcare and retail becoming more important in
defining FEMAs in areas with high concentrations of retired residents.
FEMAs covering areas which are attractive to retirees may grow and
strengthen.
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Annex A: Methodology
Figure 6-1: Project methodology
I: Induction Meeting
Phase 1:
Background
&
Preparation
Phase 2:
Understanding
Stakeholders’
Requirements
Phase 3: Delivering
a System
II: Literature & Data Review
III: Understanding Local/
Regional Requirements
IV: Defining the System
V: Data Collection
VI: Modelling & Analysis
VII: Reporting & Delivery
Phase 1: Background and Preparation
Task I: Induction Meeting
A.1
An induction meeting with the project steering group was completed, to confirm the scope of
the work, and amendments to SQW’s original proposal. The discussion at the induction
meeting was formalised in a Project Initiation Document.
Task II: Literature and Data Review
A.2
We collected literature and data on FEMAs in the South West. The research has involved a
literature review of previous regional analysis of economic links and functional geographies.
Previous work on functional economic geography in the South West is discussed in Chapter
Three of the main report and Annex B.
A-1
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Phase 2: Understanding Stakeholders’ Requirements
Task III: Understanding Local and Regional Requirements
A.3
A key aspect of this project has been the importance of achieving buy-in from local and
regional stakeholders, and designing a system that they will use in the future. To achieve this,
we have carried out consultations with key stakeholder representatives to understand their
requirements and what is already being done in the region, and can be used to inform this
system, building on the requirements set out in the project brief. An important part of this
consultation process has been testing the first draft specification of the system that was
developed in the previous task.
A.4
We undertook telephone consultations with fourteen of the upper tier local authorities. The
purpose of these consultations was to discuss the first draft specification and to understand:
•
their requirements – what they want out of this, and how they want to use it (e.g. web
interface or other)
•
their views on the functional economic market areas that they operate within
•
their views on the best data to use and data that can be made available to the study
team
•
primary data that they have been able to make available e.g. surveys.
A.5
Lower tier authorities have not been engaged directly by the consultant team, but indirectly
through the upper tier authorities.
A.6
Telephone consultations were undertaken with a small number of regional stakeholders – the
SWO, SWRDA, South West Councils and Local Authorities. The purpose of these
consultations was to understand regional requirements, previous work that has been
undertaken and data availability. A pro-forma requesting information was sent to other
regional stakeholders – the respective leaders of the SWO modules, RIEP, NHS, and HCA.
The SWO has coordinated responses from these organisations and the collation of relevant
data and information.
A.7
To test the consultation findings, and allow for interactive discussions, we held a workshop
with local and regional stakeholders on 13 April 2010 in Taunton. The purpose of the
workshop was to:
•
present the draft system specification (updated to take account of stakeholders’
feedback) in terms of both its content and form
•
receive feedback from participants
•
run thematic working groups to identify and test perceptions of functional economic
market areas around the core themes, and to discuss and identify further datasets
•
discuss prioritisation of the data sets, to determine which are the most important in
determining FEMAs.
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A.8
The output of this task was an understanding of stakeholders’ requirements, building on the
requirements in the project brief; their views on data sources; and perceptions of FEMA
boundaries based on key themes within the region.
Task IV: Defining the System
A.9
The next task was then to refine and finalise the proposed specification of the system. This
included:
•
the list of key themes to be mapped using GIS
•
a prioritised list of data sources used to map each theme (based on prioritisation by
stakeholders at the workshop), with a description of the limitations of each data set
•
recognition of different approaches or different weighting of data in different types of
area e.g. urban and rural.
A.10
A scoping meeting was held with SWO to discuss their IT requirements and capabilities.
A.11
Discussions were held about hosting the final Spatial Economic Analysis Tool on a website,
but a stand-alone system operating from a DVD was found to be the most practical way of
delivering the required functionality given the constraints of the IT systems available.
A.12
The output from this task was the finalised specification for the system to be developed. This
was discussed and agreed with the client team at a Steering Group meeting in on 6 May 2010.
Phase 3: Delivering a System
Task V: Data Collection
A.13
This task involved data collection, including primary data that has been offered by local
authorities and other stakeholders. We worked with the client steering group to agree the
prioritisation of data sets that were collected and coded within the time available.
A.14
Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) were used as the basic geographical units for the work
that we undertook wherever possible. That data which is available at LSOA level was
collected at that level, whereas data only available at higher levels was allocated across the
relevant LSOAs.
A.15
A full list of datasets collected is set out in the main body of the report in Chapter 4 and there
is further discussion on datasets in Annex D.
A.16
The output of this task was the data used in the GIS-based analysis in the next task. This was
developed as a collection of data sets which are available to stakeholders in the project to
allow them carry out their own analysis in the future. The database has been developed in
such a way that it is updateable in the future as new data sets become available.
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Task VI: The Spatial Economic Analysis Tool – South West
A.17
In this stage we undertook GIS modelling. The first part of this modelling was to map each
dataset to provide a set of layers for the system. The layers can be viewed individually or
combined together around the key themes, or other combinations, to start the process of
looking for patterns in the data that will help to inform FEMAs. The analysis that has been
undertaken in the main body of the report helps to identify where there are consistencies and
inconsistencies within and across the key themes, but is not intended to arrive at a single set
of prescriptive FEMA boundaries.
A.18
The output of this task has been the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool with some limited initial
analysis of the findings, which has been tested with the client steering group and refined
accordingly. The Tool has been designed so that it can be used by external stakeholders. To
achieve this, it has the functionality to allow layers to be combined as required by users to
investigate particular local, sub-regional or regional issues.
A.19
A key part of the analysis was multivariate analysis (MVA) which involved analysis of more
than one statistical variable at a time. The results of the MVA can be put alongside other
analysis to explore the spatial dynamics of the region and the main FEMAs that operate. The
MVA uses two groups of input variables (data):
•
a 'short list' of census variables from the ONS National Statistics Area Classification
(2001); and
•
a 'long list' of additional variables including three additional census variables, and
others from ABI, ONS, IMD, DCFS and DWP.
A.20
The review of potential data sources and the MVA analysis provides a first indication of the
key themes that are worthy of further investigation.
A.21
More detail on the MVA methodology is included in Chapter 5.
A.22
A workshop was held with the client steering group to test the initial outputs and analysis.
This workshop tested:
A.23
•
the suitability of the outputs to meet the needs of local authorities and other local,
sub-regional and regional stakeholders
•
the findings of the initial analysis
We have given some high-level consideration to how FEMAs are evolving, and the factors
that will change them in the future. This covers issues such as home working, commuting
patterns, transport infrastructure changes, and low-carbon impacts. Whilst this is not intended
to impact on current mapping of FEMAs, it identifies some useful issues to monitor in the
future.
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Task VII: Reporting and Delivery
A.24
As well as the database and the Spatial Economic Analysis Tool, we have developed a draft
and then this final report. A draft report was provided, and we took comments on this from
the client steering group.
A.25
To facilitate the training of users, we have prepared a guidance manual on how to use and
update the database, and how to use the interactive Spatial Economic Analysis Tool. We
have carried out one training workshop, which was combined with the final presentation on
18 June 2010.
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Annex B: Existing Knowledge on Functional
Economic Market Areas
Sub-regional emphases
Table B-1: Draft Regional Spatial Strategy sub-regional structure
Sub-regions
FEMA characteristics and links
North and centre of the region
•
The SSCTs in the north and centre of the region
have strong economic potential, in part due to their
relatively good links with London and the South
East (particularly in Swindon and Bristol)
•
However, the realisation of such growth is reliant on
the maintenance and improvement of connectivity
by road and rail, and the provision of sufficient
housing linked with job growth
•
Joint working recommended to develop strategies
for the functional areas of the SSCTs –
This sub-region includes:
•
the West of England (Bath, Bristol, Weston-superMare and associated towns),
•
Swindon and the associated town of Cirencester
•
Gloucester and Cheltenham and the associated
towns of Stroud and Tewkesbury
•
the main towns of the Forest of Dean, Exeter and
the associated town of Newton Abbot
•
Taunton and Bridgwater and the associated town of
Wellington
•
Trowbridge, Chippenham and Yeovil.
The south east of the region
the South East Dorset conurbation (of
Bournemouth and Poole and Christchurch, and
associated towns)
•
Weymouth
•
Dorchester
•
Salisbury.
The Western Peninsula
Plymouth
•
Torbay
•
the main Cornish Towns of Camborne-PoolRedruth, Falmouth-Penryn and Truro and the
associated towns of Penzance, Newquay and St
Austell
•
¾
Bristol/ Bath
¾
Bristol/ Weston-super-Mare
¾
Cheltenham/ Gloucester
¾
Exeter/ Newton Abbot
¾
Exeter/ Exmouth
¾
Swindon/ Chippenham
¾
Taunton/ Bridgwater
¾
Yeovil/ Sherborne.
Strong connections with areas further east, which
has had positive effects on economic performance
and the demand for residential accommodation
•
In the past 20 years, the area has experienced
significant economic and housing growth.
•
However, there is now a shortage of affordable
housing, and future growth is constrained by
internationally important environmental assets.
•
Joint working recommended to develop strategies
for the functional areas of SSCTs –
¾
South East Dorset Conurbation: Bournemouth/
Poole/ Christchurch
¾
Dorchester/ Weymouth.
•
Very high environmental quality, with two national
parks and an extensive coastline
•
One of the main tourism areas in the region
•
Long distance from London and other national
markets, and as such transport links are key
•
The area has experienced the effects of major
restructuring of key industries
•
It has relatively low productivity and wages, and a
high proportion of retirees and second home
owners
•
The area is reliant on many small towns and
service centres for jobs
•
Joint working recommended to develop strategies
This sub-region includes:
•
Bath/ Chippenham/ Trowbridge/ Frome
•
This sub-region includes:
•
¾
Barnstaple and the associated town of
Bideford/Northam.
B-1
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Sub-regions
FEMA characteristics and links
for the functional areas of SSCTs –
¾
Barnstaple/ Bideford
¾
Camborne/ Pool/ Redruth, Falmouth-Penryn,
Truro.
Source: SQW Consulting analysis of Draft RSS
Functional economic activity zones
Table B-2: Description of Functional Economic Zones
Zone
Description
North East Triangle Functional Zone
•
The North East Triangle Is the largest zone in the region and
contains 44% of the population
•
It is the most prosperous, economically diverse and accessible
zone, with links to Wales, the West Midlands, London and the
South East. It also has strong links into the M5 Corridor and
A303 Corridor zones.
•
High proportion of large companies compared to other zones, a
strong small business sector, in recent years strong employment
growth and high levels of skills. It has a relatively young
population.
•
The A303 Corridor is argued to be a not particularly distinct or
economically coherent zone; with focuses around the A303, the
Exeter/Waterloo rail corridor and the activity in and around key
market towns near the A303 and A30.
•
There is a strong MoD presence in the zone.
•
The area’s priority sectors include Advanced Engineering, Food
and Drink, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology.
•
Although employment and economic activity rates in the zone
are relatively high, as of 2006, business formation rates were not
– ranging from average to low.
Includes 3 sub-zones:
•
Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and
its hinterland – the West of England
•
Swindon and the adjacent M4 corridor
•
Gloucester, Cheltenham and the
adjacent M5 corridor.
A303 Corridor Functional Zone
•
•
Includes the key towns of Salisbury
and Yeovil, and other towns of
Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Sherborne,
Crewkerne, Chard, Axminster and
Honiton
Taunton is included in the western
edge of the zone, overlapping with the
M5 Corridor zone
B-2
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Zone
Description
South East Coastal Functional Zone
•
The South East Coastal functional zone is one of contrast; with
the prosperous Bournemouth-Pool-Christchurch conurbation
with strong business formation and high levels of inward
investment, and rural Dorset
•
With its World Heritage Status Coastline, the zone is focused on
Tourism and Leisure and Marine Technology (as well as
Advanced Engineering). As such employment is subject to
seasonal variation It is also variable across the zone
•
There is an ‘urban elite’ of high paid residents who work within
the zone or in the South East
•
There are also a relatively high proportion of retired residents, as
the zone is a major retirement destinations.
•
Focused around the BournemouthPool-Christchurch conurbation, and
other connected towns.
•
The zone also includes Weymouth,
Dorchester and Swanage.
B-3
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Zone
Description
M5 Corridor Functional Zone
•
Defined by flows along the north-south transport routes, linking
the prosperous north and less prosperous south of the region
•
The zone overlaps other functional zones, and there are strong
links between towns inside and outside of the zone; between
Weston-super-Mare and Bristol in the north and Exeter, Newton
Abbot and Torbay in the south
•
The M5 Corridor graph is argued to have been largely due to
distribution and logistics related to consumer service provision
•
There are also hot spots of high-tech and high value adding
business, in the sectors of Aerospace and Biotechnology.
•
Relatively good transport links within and to other zones,
although parts of the zone are relatively remote
•
The economy has grown slowly relative to other zones in recent
years, with the exception of Exeter
•
As of 2006, despite gradually falling unemployment levels across
the zone, the three centres still had relatively high levels of
unemployment, and particularly long term and seasonal
unemployment.
•
The key industries of tourism and manufacturing were struggling
to adapt to changing or declining markets.
•
•
Includes the strategic settlements of
Exeter, Weston-super-Mare and
Taunton, and other towns of
Wellington, Bridgwater and Tiverton
Weston-super-Mare also forms part of
the North East Triangle
South Central Functional Zone
Includes 3 main centres:
•
Exeter
•
Plymouth
•
Torbay
B-4
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Zone
Description
North Peninsula Functional Zone
•
The North Peninsula functional zone has no major urban areas,
poor transport links and is sparsely populated
•
The area has a number of market town and villages; of which
Barnstaple and Bideford are the recognised centres for jobs,
houses and services
•
The economy is dependent on tourism, consumer services and
land based industries, has low wages, seasonal employment
and high levels of deprivation.
•
The main towns are Barnstaple,
Bideford and Ilfracombe, but the zone
has no major urban areas.
B-5
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Zone
Description
Western Peninsula Functional Zone
•
The Western Peninsula Functional Zone has issues around
peripherality, with relatively poor infrastructure, physical
boundaries (including a long coastline) and a dispersed
population
•
Tended to perform poorly economically; with low economic
activity, employment and skill levels
•
Most work tends to be in low value added sectors, including food
and drink, tourism and leisure, creative industries and recently in
manufacturing
•
The smaller towns tend to act largely as local centres of
employment and services, which form a network of
complementary centres.
•
Has three main ‘towns’ of Truro,
Falmouth-Penryn and Camborne-PoolRedruth
•
and a further 11 local centres including
Bodmin, Bude, Hayle, Helston,
Launceston, Liskeard, Newquay,
Penzance, St. Austell, St. Ives and
Wadebridge.
Source: SQW Consulting: compiled from SWRDA, 2006, Spatial Implications – Place Matters
B-6
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Annex C: Mapping against LEA core themes
C.1
The national guidance for LEAs includes a set of core themes for LEAs to cover. The
guidance also provides suggestions on topics within the core themes. The table below maps
the content of the tool as of June 2010 against the LEA core themes and topics to illustrate
how the study outputs will be of use in preparing the LEAs.
Table C-1: Mapping of Spatial Economic Analysis Tool against core LEA themes
LEA core themes
Suggested sub-areas in guidance
Use of Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Fit within sub-regional and regional
markets and links between urban and
rural economies.
Tool has been designed to explore
economic linkages where possible. The
data and evidence in the tool may need to
be put alongside other evidence to explore
economic linkages and the case for
partnership working.
Economic geography
Economic linkages
Areas where new links between local
authorities could be forged or
strengthened
Business & Enterprise
Structure of economy
Sectoral structure including
comparator strengths
Employment in broad sectors and
knowledge economy included
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool does not
provide assessment of relative strengths
of sectors by area
Economic specialism’s/ clusters e.g.
low carbon sectors
Location Quotient analysis included for
employment in knowledge economy
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool does not
include cluster analysis
Enterprise & innovation
Business start-ups/ closures
Age of businesses included in tool
Businesses by size e.g. SMEs, selfemployment
Size of businesses included in tool
Employment in high growth/
knowledge based sectors – challenges
& opportunities
Employment and location quotient
analysis included for knowledge economy
HE universities & links to business
Location of universities included and
employment in broad education sector
Tool does not include analysis of links
between universities and business
Business needs
Constraints to business investment &
economic growth
Not currently included in Tool
Business views on services including
regulatory services
Not currently included in Spatial Economic
Analysis Tool
Population profile, including trends
Population profile and projections included
in Tool
Population density
Not currently included in Tool
Occupational structure
Employment by higher occupational
groups included
People and communities
Demography & geography
Labour market
C-1
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
LEA core themes
Suggested sub-areas in guidance
Use of Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Employment rates
Economic inactivity rate included.
Employment rates not currently included
Unemployment rates
Claimant count included
Worklessness
Labour market data indicators included in
Tool.
Tool will need to be put alongside other
evidence to assess worklessness
Skills
Economic inclusion
TTWA patterns
1991 and 2001 TTWAs included
Benefit claimants
Data on benefit claiming included in
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Educational attainment
GCSE attainment included
Skill levels e.g. basic and whether this
is a barrier to participation
No qualifications, NVQ3+ and NVQ4+
included in tool
Skill gaps
Tool does not currently include data on
skills gaps as not available at low spatial
scales
Extent to which skills profile meets
business needs (including in
neighbouring areas)
See above
Deprivation
2007 IMD score included
Economic exclusion
Indicators relating to economic exclusion
included (e.g. qualifications,
unemployment) but further evidence will
be required to assess economic exclusion
Economic & social barriers to
economic participation
Will need to be separately assessed
Links to exclusion, Health, Child
poverty, Crime
Not currently included in Tool
Natural environment – pressures from
growth
Not currently included in Tool
Natural environment – opportunities
for protection and enhancement from
economic prosperity
Tool includes major environmental
designations, but other evidence will be
needed to assess this topic
Biodiversity
Not currently included in Tool
Waste
Not currently included in Tool
Carbon emissions (reducing
greenhouse gases)
Not currently included in Tool
Increasing renewable energy capacity
Will need to be considered separately
Sustainable economic growth
Environmental sustainability –
protection and enhancement
of natural and historic
environment
C-2
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
LEA core themes
Suggested sub-areas in guidance
Use of Spatial Economic Analysis Tool
Environmental risks and opportunities
– impact on economic activity (e.g.
resilience of infrastructure and
business)
Not currently included in Tool
Low carbon economy
Trends, challenges and opportunities
in environmental goods and services
Not currently included in Tool
Transport provision and other
infrastructure
How transport supports economic
development/ links
Major transport routes/ links included in
base maps of Spatial Economic Analysis
Tool, but no data collected on influence of
transport on economic development
Other non-transport infrastructure
improvements to support economic
development e.g. reducing congestion
No data included in Tool on transport
improvements
Capacity of infrastructure to support
local economy e.g. broadband, energy
Housing
Housing provision (including mix of
sizes)
Not currently included in Tool
Housing affordability
Indicator of affordability included in tool
Overall competitiveness & productivity
Will need to be separately assessed
Strengths and weaknesses
Will need to be separately assessed
based on evidence base for LEA
Economic competitiveness
Overall competitiveness &
productivity
Source: SQW Consulting analysis of consultation on draft statutory guidance, December 2009
C-3
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Annex D: Themes and Layers
Table 5: Themes data table
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
PREVIOUS FEMA
ANALYSIS
Previous FEMA
analysis
PLACES
Places
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
Functional economic activity zones 2005
Sub-regional
RES (Regional
Economic Strategy)
Included in tool as zones form part of RES
Characteristic zones
2005
Sub-regional
DTZ/ SWRDA
Included in tool as formed part of DTZ 2005 research on
regional/ sub-regional spatial dynamics which updated the
functional economic activity zones
Sub-regional housing markets
2008
Sub-regional
Draft RSS (Regional
Spatial Strategy)
Included in tool to show housing market areas identified in
draft RSS
Local Government Association sub- 2007
regional analysis
Sub-regional
LGA/ PACEC
Included in tool to illustrate previous example of FEMA
analysis
Strategic Significant Cities and
Towns (SSCTs)
2008
Point
Draft RSS
Included in tool as SSCTs form part of draft RSS and
useful indicator of settlement hierarchy
Rural Urban Definitions
2004
Census output ONS
areas
Included in tool as indicator of characteristic of places and
robust data
Market town typology
2009
Point
AMT
Included in tool as market towns are important economic
and service centres in parts of the region. Captures places
not included in SSCTs
Strategic employment land
allocations
Unknown
Point
Local Planning
Authorities and
Regional Planning
Not included as geo-coded data has not been made
available to the study
Priority regeneration areas
2007
Point
Draft RSS
Not included as data has not been made available to the
study
Brownfield land sites
Various
Point
Included in tool to show potential availability of sites for
Homes Communities
Agency based on Local new development
Planning Authority
returns
All Bulk Classes Rateable Value per square metre
2008
MSOA
Homes Communities
Agency (Valuation
Office)
Included in tool as proxy of attractiveness of places as
business location. Rateable values are based on a range
of factors, including the type of floorspace in each area
D-1
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
ECONOMIC LINKAGES Economic output
Employment
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
Growth Points
Unknown
District and
upper tier
Homes Communities
Agency
Included to show location of places identified as having
potential for housing and other growth
Local Delivery Vehicles
Unknown
Point
Homes Communities
Agency
Included to show location of administrative areas to
support economic development
GVA - Total (£m) and % change
1998-2008
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Included to show total economic output by area and %
change (1998-08 and 2003-08). GVA total and change by
broad sector could be added to tool
GVA - per Full Time Equivalent
(FTE) worker
2008
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Not included as total and change prioritised. Could be
added to tool
Exports by industry
2008
Regional
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Not included as only available at regional scale. Data
includes exports by broad industry (£m), industry share of
export market, % of industry sales and exports to markets
FTE workers - % change
1998-2008
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Included as Econ-I FTE data includes estimates of both
employees and self-employees (ABI includes employees
only). Change included rather than total ('000s) as
indicator of economic performance over time. Change in
FTE workers by broad sectors and RDA priority sectors
not included but could be added to tool
FTE workers - total ('000s)
1998-2008
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Not included as % change in FTE workers prioritised in
tool. FTE workers total by broad sectors and RDA priority
sectors could be added to tool
Employees by broad sector
(workplace) - %
2008
LSOA
ABI
Included to show relative concentration of employees by
broad sector. Employment in detailed sectors could be
added to tool but data may be suppressed at LSOA scale
so may have to be at district scale. Change in total
employees by broad sector not included as only possible
to compare 2006-2008 using ABI due to discontinuities in
data
Employees in knowledge economy
(workplace) - %
2008
LSOA
ABI
Included to show concentration of employees in
knowledge economy, an important indicator of future
economic performance. OECD definition of knowledge
economy used. Change in employees not included as only
possible to compare 2006-2008 using ABI due to
discontinuities in data
Employees in knowledge economy - 2008
Location Quotient analysis
LSOA
ABI
Included to show relative concentration of employees in
knowledge economy compared with South West. Location
D-2
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
Quotient analysis of employees in broad sectors (and by
business units) has not been included in tool due to time &
resources available but could be added to tool.
Economic forecasts
Household earnings
Tourism
Self-employment - % of those aged 2001
16-74 who are self employed
LSOA
Census 2001
Included to show concentration of self-employment, an
important source of employment in rural areas and other
parts of the region. 2001 Census data included as it is
available at LSOA and is robust. Annual Population
Survey data only available by district/ upper tier
Sole Traders and Partnerships - %
of total enterprise units
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Included as up to date proxy of self-employment. Units
rounded to nearest ten.
Employment by senior and less
senior occupation groups - %
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Included as resident based proxy of skills of workers.
Senior occupation group combines Managers and Senior
Officials and Professional Occupations groups. Less
senior occupation group combines Process, Plant and
Machine Operatives and Elementary Occupations groups.
Other broad occupation groups could be added to tool
Employees per working age
population (job density)
2008
LSOA
ABI/ ONS
Included as proxy of job density. Total employees divided
by working age population.
Forecast FTE workers - % change
2009-15,
2015-30
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Included as proxy for potential change in future
employment. Spring 2010 forecasts. Forecasts by broad
sector could be added to tool
Forecast GVA - % change
2009-15,
2015-30
Upper tier
Econ-I (SWO/ SWRDA) Included as proxy for potential change in economic output.
Spring 2010 forecasts. Forecasts by FTE workers and by
broad sector could be added to tool
Household income - % change in
average weekly household income
total (2004/5 - 2007/8)
2007/08
MSOA
ONS
Workplace earnings - change in
median weekly pay (gross) for fulltime workers (2004-2009)
2009
District and
upper tier
Annual Survey of Hours Included as measure of change in workplace earnings
and Earnings
Visitor Numbers - South West
attractions
2003 - 2007 Individual
attractions
SW Tourism
Not included as tourism spend data prioritised. Could be
added to tool if geo-coded
Tourism - total spend (£)
2008
SW Tourism
Included to provide indicator of strength of tourism sector.
Other lower priority data available that could be added to
tool: UK, overseas, total trips; UK, overseas, total nights;
District and
upper tier
Included as proxy of change in household wealth
D-3
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
tourism day visits & spend; total business turnover;
staying tourist supported.
Businesses
Enterprise
Inward investment
Business units - total
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Included as measure of count of local units of businesses.
IDBR includes PAYE and VAT data. Various data on
business units also available from Econ-I (e.g. Size, by
broad and RDA priority sectors). Not included as only
available at higher spatial scale
Business units by size - 0-4
employees, 5-9, 10-19, 20+ - %
change
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Included as proxy for size of local units. Data presented
by banding of number of employees
Business turnover by band
(enterprises) - £
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Not included as does not capture all small businesses and
because of time and resources available. Could be added
to tool
Business legal status (public and
non-public)
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Not included as % employment in public administration
included and because of time and resources available.
Could be added to tool
Business industrial clusters
Latest
Unknown
SWRDA
Not included as region-wide research on economic
clusters has not been completed within study timeframe
Business units Location Quotient
analysis
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Not included due to time and resources available and the
need to keep the tool manageable. Could be added to tool
over time to show sectoral over/ under-representation of
businesses by broad sector compared with South West
Business skills gaps
Unknown
Various
Various
Not included in tool as no comprehensive data available at
finer scale across region.
Business units by age band (<2
years, 2-3, 4-9, +10) - % change
2009
LSOA
IDBR
Included as proxy of enterprise and survival rates
Business survival rates (3 and 5
years) - %
2008
District and
upper tier
ONS
Included as measure of enterprise. Data shows survival
rates of all new enterprises registered in 2003 after 3 and
5 years (i.e. % of businesses still trading after 3 and 5
years).
Business start-ups and closures per 2009
10,000 resident population
LSOA
IDBR/ ONS
Not included as alternative proxies of enterprise included.
Foreign Direct Investment - £m
Regional
UKTI/ RDA
Not included as data not available below regional level.
Latest
D-4
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
LABOUR MARKETS
DEMOGRAPHY
Sub-area
Travel to work
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
Travel to Work Areas (1991 and
2001)
1991 and
2001
TTWA
Census 1991 and
2001
Included in tool to show labour catchments. Analysis of
TTWA data (for example by occupational group, gender,
self-containment thresholds) was beyond the time and
resources available to the study
Self containment - % of working
population who commute within
the district
2001
Local
authority
Census 2001
Included as available region-wide and self-containment
is useful proxy of commuting patterns.
Commuting flows
2008
Local
authority
Annual Population
Survey
Not included as commuting flow data only available
district to district which does not reveal patterns within
districts
Average distance to work (km)
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Included as valuable measure of distance to work
% of population aged 16-74 in
employment usually travel to work
by public transport
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Not included in tool as will not reflect new public
transport investments across region
% of population aged 16-74 in
employment who work mainly
from home
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Included as only comprehensive region-wide measure of
home working at low spatial scale. Tool can be updated
with other primary data where it is available
Worklessness
Economic inactivity - average %
(2004-09) of working age
population who are economically
inactive
2009
District and
upper tier
Annual Population
Survey
Included in tool. Average % of economic inactivity over
2004-09 included because of sampling errors in any one
year
Skills/ education
Qualification levels - average %
(2006-08) of residents with no
qualifications, NVQ3+ and
NVQ4+
2008
District and
upper tier
Annual Population
Survey
Included in tool. Average % of residents with no, NVQ3+
and NVQ4+ qualifications over 2006-08 included
because of sampling errors in any one year
GSCE attainment - average level
3 QCA point score per entry
2008-09
LSOA
ONS
Included as measure of educational attainment.
Population
Population - % change
2001-2008
LSOA
ONS
Included in tool as indicator of attractiveness of places
Working age population - as % of
2008
LSOA
ONS
Included in tool to show distribution of working age
D-5
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
total population
Justification
population
Elderly population - % of people of
pensionable age (60/65+) as a
proportion of total population
2008
LSOA
ONS
Included in tool to show distribution of pensionable aged
population
Ethnic minority population
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Not included in tool as lower priority within time and
resources available
Population projections Population projections - % change
2006-2031
District and
upper tier
ONS
Included in tool as indicator of future change. 2006-based
sub national population projections. Projections by age
group not included to keep tool size manageable but could
be added depending on importance of demography issues
by area
Housing change
Housing allocation targets
Various
Local and sub- Local Planning
regional
Authorities and Draft
RSS
Not included in tool as population projections included
instead
Households - number
2006
District and
upper tier
ONS/ CLG
Not included as population included instead of households
Annual net additions to dwelling
stock (new build and conversions)
1996/72008/9
Various
South West Councils
Not included as new dwellings are small proportion of total
housing stock and local planning authorities is lowest
spatial scale available. Brownfield land sites included in
tool as indicator of potential location of new housing and
other development
Household projections
2006-2031
District and
upper tier
ONS/ South West
Councils
Not included as population projections included in tool
instead
Housing affordability - ratio of lower 2009
quartile house price to lower quartile
earnings
District and
upper tier
South West Councils
Included in tool as housing affordability is an important
issue in the South West.
House prices - median
2009
District and
upper tier
South West Councils
Included in tool as component of housing market areas
and as one proxy of attractiveness of areas
Second or holiday homes - % of
households
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Not included as lower priority within time and resources
available to study
RETAIL CATCHMENTS Retail catchments
Retail catchments
2010
Place
South West
Observatory (Acxiom)
Included in tool as retail catchments are an important
factor in assessing FEMAs
ACCESS TO SERVICES Access to services
Population weighted average road
2007
LSOA
Index of Multiple
Included as indicator of accessibility to services
HOUSING MARKETS
Housing markets
D-6
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
distance (KM) to a primary school
ADMINISTRATIVE
Administrative areas
AREAS & HISTORICAL
PARTNERSHIPS
TRANSPORT &
INFRASTRUCTURE
Transport
Source
Justification
Deprivation
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to a food store
2007
LSOA
Index of Multiple
Deprivation
Included as indicator of accessibility to services
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to GP premises
2007
LSOA
Index of Multiple
Deprivation
Included as indicator of accessibility to services
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to a Post Office
2007
LSOA
Index of Multiple
Deprivation
Included as indicator of accessibility to services
Higher Education Institutions location
2010
Site
Higher Education
Statistics Agency
Included as indicator of accessibility to services and
because of links between HEIs and knowledge economy.
HEIs not campuses
Further Education Colleges locations
2010
Site
Association of Colleges Included as indicator of accessibility to services
Hospitals locations / PCT
boundaries
Latest
Site
Unknown
Political control - Members of
Parliament and local authorities
Latest
Constituencies Central and local
government
/ local
authorities
Not included in tool as May 2010 General Election
completed during study
Sub-regional partnership boundaries Latest
Sub-regional
Various
Not included in tool because lower priority within time and
resources available to study and data not made available
Sub-regional business organisations Latest
- organisation of Chambers of
Commerce, Chambers of Trade,
Sector Bodies
Sub-regional
Various
Not included in tool because lower priority within time and
resources available to study
New transport investments
Latest
Route
Various
Not included in tool as geo-coded data has not been
made available and lower priority within time and
resources available for study
Public transport accessibility
Latest
Place
Unknown
Not included as region-wide data source has not been
made available and insufficient resources available to
investigate local sources. A significant proportion of
workers travel to work by private car in the region
Congestion
Latest
Route
Unknown
Not included as region-wide data source has not been
made available and insufficient resources available to
Not included because region-wide data has not been
made available and lower priority within time and
resources available to study
D-7
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
investigate local sources
CULTURE & IDENTITY
SOCIAL
NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
Percent of households with 2 or
more cars
2001
LSOA
Census 2001
Not included as lower priority within time and resources
available to study
Infrastructure
Broadband - access and demand
Latest
Site
SWRDA
Not included as region-wide data has not been made
available within the study timeframe. Research has
recently been completed on behalf of SWRDA on
broadband accessibility and demand and GIS maps are
being produced. These can be added to the tool in time
Culture
Cultural attractions - regional/ sub- Latest
regionally significant (e.g. museums,
galleries, concert halls)
Site
Unknown
Not included in tool because geo-coded data has not been
made available and lower priority within time and
resources available to the study
Heritage and Historical attractions - Latest
e.g. Listed Buildings, Scheduled
Ancient Monuments, Heritage Sites
Site
Various
Not included in tool because lower priority within time and
resources available to study. Multiple point dots added
minimal value.
Ticket sales
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Not included as data has not been made available
Regional and local identity
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Not included as no region-wide data available on
perceptions of identity
TV regions
Latest
Sub-regional
Unknown
Not included in tool as lower priority within time and
resources available
Local newspaper circulation
Latest
Sub-regional
Unknown
Not included in tool given general trend for falling
circulation and increase in digital media
LSOA
Index of Multiple
Deprivation
Required. IMD should have been mapped - check SWO
Claimant count unemployment rate 2010 (March) District and
upper tier
NOMIS
Included in tool as administrative not sample data. Not
available at low spatial scale across region because of
suppression of data. ILO unemployment not included in
tool but could be added
Benefit claimants - % of working age 2009
population claiming out of work
benefits
LSOA
DWP
Included in tool as indicator of worklessness. Data also
available by gender and age that could be added to tool
over time
Site
MAGIC
Included in tool as indicator of quality of place
Social
Natural environment
Index of Deprivation - overall score 2007
Natural environment - National
Parks and Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty
Latest
D-8
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Theme
Sub-area
Data indicator
Year(s)
Scale
Source
Justification
Latest
Natural England - Ancient
Woodland, Local Nature Reserves,
National Nature Reserve, Ramsar
Sites, Special Protection Areas,
Special Areas Of Conservation,
Historic Parks, SSSI sites
Site
Various
Not included in tool as lower priority within time and
resources available
Flood Zones
Latest
Site
Environmental Agency Not included in tool as geo-coded data has not been
made available and lower priority within time and
resources available for study
Energy consumption by sector
2007
District and
upper tier
Department for Energy Not included in tool as data available at district level and
and Climate Change
lower priority within time and resources available to study
D-9
Functional Economic Market Areas and Economic Linkages in the South West
Final Report
Annex E: Guidance Manual
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
Spatial Economic Analysis
Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
June 2010
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
Contents
1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1
2: Working with Layers..........................................................................................................11
3: Exporting maps..................................................................................................................13
4: Symbology..........................................................................................................................14
5: Projects...............................................................................................................................15
6: Advanced use.....................................................................................................................17
Annex A: Methodology ........................................................................................................ A-1
Annex B: Existing Knowledge on Functional Economic Market Areas ......................... B-1
Annex C: Mapping against LEA core themes ................................................................... C-1
Annex D: Themes and Layers............................................................................................. D-1
Annex E: Guidance Manual................................................................................................. E-1
Contact:
James Shorten
Approved by:
Gareth Jones
email:
Date:
[email protected]
16/06/2010
Director
www.sqw.co.uk
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
1: Introduction
1.1
This is the guidance manual for the Spatial Economic Analysis GIS (Geographic Information
System) Tool (SEAT-SW) produced for the South West Observatory's Functional Economic
Market Areas (FEMA) research. The GIS Tool is based on a fully functional GIS system –
QGIS 35. This manual will guide you through using the Tool to view and manipulate the
layers assembled for the Tool. As QGIS is a fully functional GIS system you can do much
more than simply use the preloaded layers. Guidance on more advanced use of QGIS is
available in section 6.
Basics
1.2
The dvd-rom containing the Tool has the following on it:
•
an introductory web page
•
QGIS software
•
Over 100 layers
•
a copy of this manual
Starting GQIS
1.3
The dvd-rom has been tested to run on all recent versions of Windows 36. When you put the
dvd-rom into your computer it should automatically open the introductory web page. This
explains how to start the QGIS software. For some versions of Windows you have to give
permission when prompted for the dvd-rom to open this way.
If this still does not work just open Explorer and navigate to the dvd-rom and
then click on the file index.html on the dvd. If you cannot open the file
index.html then click on QuantumGIS-all_layers on the dvd. This will open the
software with all of the FEMA layers loaded. This takes a few minutes as there
is a lot of data to load.
Settings
1.4
There are five settings changes you should make at this stage to improve the performance of
QGIS:
35
36
QGIS is free, open source software
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
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Spatial Economic Analysis Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
•
Go to Settings – Options – and in the tab Rendering & SVG enter value
1000 in the field Number of features to draw before updating the display –
this will help your maps draw faster.
•
Go to Plugins - Manage plugins and select the NorthArrow plugin to give
you a north arrow.
•
Go to Plugins - Manage plugins and select the ScaleBar plugin to give you
a scale bar.
•
Go to Plugins - Manage plugins and select the CopyrightLabel plugin to
add the copyright label.
•
Go to Plugins - Manage plugins and select the Quick Print plugin – you will
need this to export maps.
You only need to do this once for each computer you use the cd on – these
settings will be automatically saved.
Projects
1.5
When you open QGIS it will open empty – without any layers loaded. The next step is to
open a project. Projects are collections of layers which QGIS will open automatically. The
dvd-rom has a number of projects already saved on it. You can also make up and save your
own projects – section 5. There is a project containing all of the layers available on the dvd
icon, and then navigate to the projects
rom which you should open next. Click on the
folder on the dvd-rom and open the project all_layers.qgs. The project will open with all of
the layers loaded but with none of the layers switched on.
Layers
1.6
Layers are the building blocks of GIS. They are maps of features (roads, administrative
boundaries etc.) or data (population, employment etc.). The layers in the Tool have been
chosen through the research and consultation work of the project. They are a mix of what is
useful and what is available for better understanding FEMAs in the South West.
1.7
The full list of the layers in the Tool is below in the table SW FEMAs GIS Tool Layers. This
also includes a note of the 'geography' the data is mapped to – these are the units for which
the data was available and so the scale at which it could be mapped. Most of the layers in the
Tool are mapped to Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs), which are relatively small, and so
allow greater detail to be seen. However some data was only available for larger areas –
Medium Super Output Areas (MSOAs), or local authorities. Other layers such as Travel to
Work Areas and Retail Catchments are different again.
1.8
The layers are stored on the dvd in the same order as the table below in the folder /layers. If
you look in these folders you will see that each layer saved as a 'shapefile' – a type of GIS file
format. Shapefiles are actually made up of six separate files (you can ignore this), each with
the same name, and then one 'readme.txt' – details of the source of the data in the layer can be
found here.
1.9
Now you have the all_layers.qgs project open the next step is to understand how to work with
the layers.
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Table 1-1: GIS Tool Layers
Theme
Layer Folder
access_to_services
base_layers
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
distance_to_food_store
distance_to_food_store
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to a food store
distance_to_GP_premises
distance_to_GP_premises
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to GP premises
distance_to_post_office
distance_to_post_office
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to a Post Office
distance_to_primary_school
distance_to_primary_school
2007
IMD
Population weighted average road
distance (KM) to a primary school
FECs_sw_england
FECs_in_the_southwest
2009
Association of
Colleges
Locations of further education
colleges
HEIs_sw_england
HEIs_in_the_southwest
2008/9
HESA data return
08/09
Locations of higher education
institutions
background_maps
1_250000
2010
OS OpenData
Background map
MiniScale
2010
OS OpenData
Background map
higher_tier
higher_tier
2010
OS OpenData
Higher tier local authorities
rail
rail
OS OpenData
Rail lines
roads
Sub Folder
a_roads
a_roads
2010
OS OpenData
A roads
motorways
motorways
2010
OS OpenData
Motorways
rural_urban_defins
rural_urban_defins
2004
ONS
Rural urban definitions
sw_outline
sw_outline
2010
ONS LSOAs
Outline of the SW region
unitaries_boroughs
unitaries_boroughs
2010
OS OpenData
Unitary and borough local
authorities
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Theme
Layer Folder
demography
economy
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
pensionable_age
pensionable_age
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population
Estimates
population_change_01_08
population_change_01_08
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population
Estimates
population_forecasts
population_forecasts
2006
ONS
Sub national population
projections
working_age_population
working_age_population
2008
ONS
ONS Resident Population
Estimates
ave_dist_work
ave_dist_work
2001
2001 Census
Average distance to work (km)
business_units
business_units
2008
Econ-I
Number business units
claimants
claimants
2010
Nomis
Claimants as % working age
population
commuting_self_cont
commuting_self_cont
2001
2001 Census
Commuting self containment
econ_inactivity
econ_inactivity
2004-2009
Annual
Population
Survey
Average economic inactivity %
working age population
less_senior
employment_by_occupational_group_less_senior
2001
2001 Census
Combined occupational groups
senior
employment_by_occupational_group_senior
2001
2001 Census
Combined occupational groups
09_15
forecasts_fte_09_15
2010
South West
Observatory
Economy Model
Workers: full time equivalent
change 2009-2015
forecasts_gva_09_15
2010
South West
Observatory
Economy Model
Gross value added change 20092015
employment_by_occupationa
l_group
forecasts
Sub Folder
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Theme
Layer Folder
Sub Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
15_30
forecasts_fte_15_30
2010
South West
Observatory
Economy Model
Workers: full time equivalent
change 2015-2030
forecasts_gva_15_30
2010
South West
Observatory
Economy Model
Workers: full time equivalent
change 2015-2030
fte_workers_1998_2008
1998-2008
Econ-I
Workers: full time equivalent
change 1998-2008
98_08
gva_change_98_08
1998-2008
Econ-I
Gross value added change 19982008
03_08
gva_change_03_08
2003-2008
Econ-I
Gross value added change 20032008
gva_total
2008
Econ-I
Gross value added total
2to3
idbr_age_bands_less2
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band <2 years
4to9
idbr_age_bands_2to3
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 2-3 years
10plus
idbr_age_bands_4to9
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 4-9 years
less2
idbr_age_bands_10plus
2009
IDBR
Enterprise age band 10+ years
idbr_local_units
2009
IDBR
Local units count
0_4
dbr_unit_size_0_4
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 0-4
employees
5_9
idbr_unit_size_5_9
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 5-9
employees
10_19
idbr_unit_size_10_19
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 10-19
employees
fte_workers
gva_change
gva_total
idbr_age_bands
idbr_local_units
idbr_local_units_size
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Theme
Layer Folder
Sub Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
20_plus
idbr_unit_size_20_plus
2009
IDBR
Local units size band 20+
employees
job_density
job_density
2008
IDBR, ONS
Total employees / working age
population
knowledge_economy
knowledge_economy
2008
ABI
OECD 2003 3 Digit SIC Code
Definition
knowledge_economy_lq
knowledge_economy_lq
2008
ABI
OECD 2003 3 Digit SIC Code
Definition – locational quotient
employment
_agriculturefishing
employed_agriculture-fishing
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC A,B)
employment
_bankingfinanceinsurance
employment_banking-finance-insurance
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC J,K)
employment
_constructio
n
employed_construction
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC F)
employment
_distribhotelsrestaurant
employed_distrib-hotels-restaurant
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC G,H)
employment
_energywater
employed_energy-water
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC C,E)
employment
_manufacturi
ng
employed_manufacturing
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC D)
sectoral_employment
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Theme
Layer Folder
Sub Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
employment
_otherservices
employed_other-services
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC O,P,Q)
employment
_public_admi
n-educationhealth
employed_public_admin-education-health
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC L,M,N)
employment
_transportcommunicati
on
employed_transport-communication
2008
ABI
Broad industrial group (SIC I)
self_emp_2001
self_emp
2001
2001 Census
Self employment
sole_traders_ptnrs
sole_traders_ptnrs
2008
IDBR
Sole traders & partnerships
ttwas_2001
ttwas_2001
2001
ONS
Travel to work areas
ttwas_1991
ttwas_1991
1991
ONS
Travel to work areas
value_tourism
value_tourism
2008
SW Toruism
Tourism total spend
net
weekly_household_net_income
2007-2008
ONS
Weekly income - net
total
weekly_household_tot_income
2007-2008
ONS
Weekly income - total
work_from_home
2001
2001 Census
Works mainly from home
2004to2009
workplace_earnings_2004to2009
2004-2009
Annual Survey of
Hours and
Earnings
Full time weekly workplace
earnings
2009
workplace_earnings_2009
2009
Annual Survey of
Hours and
Earnings
Full time weekly workplace
earnings
weekly_income
work_from_home
workplace_earnings
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Theme
Layer Folder
housing
natural_env
places
previous_fema
qualifications
Sub Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
2009_affordability_ratio
2009_affordability_ratio
2009
SW Councils
Lower quartile affordability ratio
2009_median_house_price
2009_median_house_price
2009
SW Councils
Median house price
aonbs
aonbs
2010
MAGIC
Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty
national_parks
national_parks
2010
MAGIC
National Parks
amt_classific
amt_classific
2009
Association of
Market Towns
Classification of market towns
brownfield
brownfield
2010
HCA
Brownfield land sites
growth_points
growth_points
2010
HCA
Growth Points
ldvs
ldvs
2010
HCA
Local Delivery Vehicles
rateable_value
rateable_value
2005
HCA
Rateable value £ per m2
sscts
sscts
2008
Draft SW RSS
Strategically significant cities and
towns
housing_markets
subregional_housing_markets
2004
DTZ
Sub regional housing markets
lga_zones
lga_sub_regions
2007
LGA
Thriving Local Communities,
Mapping Sub Regions
rda_character_zones
rda_character_zones
2004
DTZ
Spatial dynamics
rda_functional_zones
rda_functional_zones
2004
DTZ
Spatial dynamics
gcse_score
gcse_score
2008-2009
ONS
Average level 3 QCA point score
per entry
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Theme
retail
Layer Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
skills_no-qualification
skills_no-qualification
2006-2008
Annual
Population
Survey
No Qualification
skills_nvq3+
skills_nvq3+
2006-2008
Annual
Population
Survey
NVQ3+
skills_nvq4+
skills_nvq4+
2006-2008
Annual
Population
Survey
NVQ4+
retail_catchments_1-2
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_district
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_local
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_major-city
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_major-district
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_major-regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_minor-district
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-2_sub-regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_district
2010
Acxiom
Primary and secondary retail
catchments
retail_catchments_1-3
Sub Folder
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Theme
Social
Layer Folder
Sub Folder
Layer name
Date
Source
Data description
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_local
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_major-city
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_major-district
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_major-regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_minor-district
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
SW_retail_catchments_1-3_sub-regional
2010
Acxiom
Primary, secondary and tertiary
retail catchments
imd_score
imd_score
2007
IMD
Overall score
claimant_count
claimant_count
2010
Nomis
Unemployment claimant count rate
(% of working age population)
claimants_LSOA
claimant_LSOA
2010
Nomis
Unemployment claimant count rate
(% of working age population)
out_of_work_benefits
out_of_work_benefits
2009
DWP
% of working age population
claiming out of work benefits
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2: Working with Layers
2.1
Make sure you have the project all_layers.qgs open. You will see all of the layers, grouped by
theme, in the map legend down the left hand side. You can turn layers on and off by clicking
the box next to them. Click on the + sign to show the key for each layer. You can also change
the order of the layers by dragging and dropping them up and down the map legend. This is
important as the order in which they appear in the map legend is the order in which they will
appear on the displayed map in the map view window.
2.2
QGIS Window, overleaf, shows you what the different parts of the QGIS window are called.
2.3
Turn on the layer higher_tier from the base_layers theme . It will appear in the map view
window. Then turn on pensionable_age from the demography theme. The layer higher_tier
appears on top of pensionable_age so you can clearly see the boarders of the higher tier
authorities. You can now:
•
move around the map using the
•
zoom in and out using the
•
identify the data 'under' the pointer using the
icon for the active layer,
which is the layer you currently have highlighted in the map legend.
•
view all of the data in the layer by using the
attribute table for the active layer.
icon.
icons, or by rolling your mouse wheel.
icon to display the
2.4
You can only have one active layer at once – this is the layer you are 'working' on, such as
looking at data in it or changing its appearance or 'symbology' – see section 4.
2.5
The two base layers, 1_250000 and MiniScale, are different in that they are large background
map images. Due to their size they significantly slow down turning layers on and off and
moving around the map in QGIS. How much they slow things down will depend on the speed
of your computer, but you may find it better to only turn them on when you need them rather
than leaving them on all the time. QGIS Window.
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Figure 2-2: QGIS window – example image
Bar
Legend – where the key for the map appears
Bar
View – where the map appears
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3: Exporting maps
3.1
You have three options for exporting the map you are looking at:
•
click file, Save as image... and you will be able to save what you can see
in the map view window – pick the image file type you want.
•
click the Quick Print icon
, and you can give your map a title and
name, and save it as an image (pick the image file type you want, such as
.jpeg) which will include a legend, scale bar and north arrow.
•
you can produce a more sophisticated map using Print Composer – this
is an advanced use, explained in the QGIS documentation. The main
benefits are that you can adjust all elements of the map individually, but its
more complex to use.
3.2
Once you have exported your map as an image you can import it into documents etc..
3.3
All maps you export need to feature a licence label. This should appear automatically, but if it
does not please ensure that this text appears immediately below any maps you use in
publications: ‘Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010’.
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4: Symbology
4.1
4.2
Symbology is the term for how the layer is displayed in the map. Right click in the map
legend on the pensionable_age layer you already have open and select Properties. This will
open all of the properties of the layer, one of which is Symbology. This is where the settings
for the display of the layer are. You will see that for this layer:
•
the map is displaying five quantiles
•
which have a fill (shading) from dark purple to light pink, with no outline.
•
the layer is set to 40% transparency so that you can see other layers
below it.
You can change all of these settings to change what the layer looks like:
•
classification
¾
type of classification – mode
¾
number of classes
¾
click classify to apply
•
fill colours and patterns
•
outline type and colours
•
transparency.
4.3
One of the most useful things this allows you to do is to remove the colour from some of the
classes, such as leaving only the highest classes coloured in so overlaying the layer with other
layers is easier to interpret. There are examples of this in the other projects on the dvd-rom section 5.
4.4
The type of classification, and fill and outline options are changed via drop-down menus. The
number of classes is changed by selecting a new number. Transparency is controlled via the
slider, top right.
4.5
If you have changed the symbology of a layer and you close QGIS, when you re-open QGIS
the original symbology will be displayed again. If you want to save your own symbology you
need to save a new project – section 5.
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5: Projects
5.1
In addition to the all_layers.qgs project there are also the following projects you can open, all
in the \layers folder: t
all_layers.qgs
all fema layers
empty_project.qgs
for you to build your own project in
Project_1.Structure_of_economy.qgs
Structure of the economy
Project_2.Enterprise_&_Innovation.qgs
Enterprise & Innovation
Project_3.Demography_&_Geography.qgs
Demography & Geography
Project_4.Labour_market.qgs
Labour markets
Project_5.Skills.qgs
Skills
Project_6.Economic_inclusion.qgs
Economic & inclusion
Project_7.Natural_envt.qgs
Natural Environment
Project_8.Transport.qgs
Transport
Project_9.Housing.qgs
Housing
Project_10.Future_change.qgs
Future change
Project_11.Place.qgs
Place
5.2
You can open them in the same way: click on the
icon, and then navigate to the projects
folder on the dvd-rom and open the project you want. These projects will open with
symbology altered to suit the purposes of each project.
5.3
In addition, you can save your own projects, both in order to save symbology you have
altered, or to put together a new project from layers you chose to open. In both cases you will
icon and then choosing a place to
need to save a project file. You do this by clicking the
save the project file. There are three important things you need to know here:
•
you cannot save the project file on the dvd, as its is read-only – you will
have to save the project file on the hard drive of your computer – it is
suggested that you save all project files in a single projects folder in a
location you choose
•
the project file that you save does not contain all of the layers – it is a
small file which records where to find the layers, and how to organise and
symbolise them. This means that you will need to have the dvd in the drive
to use the project (though if QGIS cannot find the layers for a project it will
ask you to find them for it)
•
name your folders and projects without spaces in the name, e.g.
new_project.
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5.4
If you wish to put together a new project, you should first name and save it. Then you can add
layers. There are two types of layer you might want to add:
•
vector layers are added with this icon
layers
•
raster layers are added with this icon
- the two basemaps 1_250000
and MiniScale are the only two raster layers.
- most of the layers are vector
5.5
For both types of layer browse to find the layer you want on the dvd and open it. It will
appear in the map legend and map view window. You can then work with the layers in your
new project as described in section 2 above.
5.6
There are many project properties settings, but using these will suit most purposes: click
file, project properties, and then select the Coordinate Reference System (CRS) tab, pick
the British National Grid as the project CRS, and tick Enable 'on the fly' CRS
transformation.
5.7
Don't forget to save your project before you exit QGIS so that you can start where you left off
next time.
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6: Advanced use
6.1
As QGIS is a fully-functional GIS system there are many things you can do in addition to
those described above, should you wish to. The QGIS documentation, particularly the user
manual, explain what is possible and how to do it. A copy of the user manual is in the
user_manual folder on the dvd. This section gives a brief introduction to some more advanced
features you might want to use.
Selecting features and creating new layers
6.2
You can select features from within the active layer using the select tool - #, either by
drawing a rectangle around them or selecting them one at a time with the ctrl key held down.
You can then save your selection as a new layer by clicking Layer, Save selection as
shapefile... . Shapefiles are the default form of layer for QGIS (and other GIS systems).
6.3
As for projects you will need to save your new layer on your hard drive, and do not use
spaces in the folder or layer names. If you are prompted for a Coordinate Reference System
(CRS) choose the British National Grid.
6.4
You can then open your new layer as for other layers, but will have to apply a fresh
symbology to it.
Using additional layers
6.5
QGIS will open a wide range of types of layer, so you can open additional layers from your
own or other organisations and include then in your projects. Open them in the same way as
for layers on the dvd-rom.
6.6
You will have to apply a fresh symbology for these layers.
Installing GIS on your computer
6.7
The QGIS software loads from the dvd-rom. This means that it works more slowly that if it
were installed on your computer. If you want to you can install QGIS on your computer and it
will work faster. There are downloads for most operating systems (including Windows and
Mac) here: http://www.qgis.org/en/download/current-software.html
6.8
You can then use the layers from the dvd, new layers you have created and load additional
layers.
Using the layers in other GIS systems
6.9
The layers on the dvd-rom are stored as shapefiles. Most GIS systems can open these, and so
they can be opened from the dvd or copies taken and opened. However, the symbology QGIS
applies to the layers will not 'transfer' into other GIS systems, as each system has its own
approach to applying symbology.
17
Spatial Economic Analysis Tool South West (SEAT - SW)
GIS Tool Guidance Manual
18