Christchurch Coastal Area Plan 2016
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Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan: Christchurch Coastal Area Plan 2016 The Christchurch Coastal Area plan is a daughter document of the Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan and covers the coastal area of Christchurch. This plan has been written by the Dorset Coastal Community Team with input from Dorset Coast Forum members. Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan Christchurch Coastal Area Plan Key Information This document is linked to the Connecting Dorset Coastal Community Team Economic Plan and (Sections 1-4 can be found in this) 5. Local Area (Provide brief geographical description) Christchurch is the most easterly coastal town of Dorset. It boarders Bournemouth to the west and the New Forest, Hampshire to the east. Christchurch Harbour is the town’s natural harbour with two Rivers the Avon and the Stour flowing into it at its northwest corner. Stanpit Marsh lies at the northern edge of the harbour and is a 65,000 Hectare local nature reserve. To the west side of the harbour is the prominent natural coastal headland, Hengistbury Head which protects the harbour. The harbour contains large areas of saltmarsh and is protected by Mudeford spit (a sandbar) which has fine sandy beach on both sides of a walkway lined with beach huts. Christchurch is a gateway town to the Jurassic coast, home to the nearby Highcliffe Castle and the cliff line of the Highcliffe to Barton Geological SSSI. The coastal area has a rich and diverse blend of historic, geological and environmental features and is a thriving community hub. It is an important place for coastal recreation and tourism activity, steeped in social history. For the purposes of this plan the Christchurch coastal area is made up of the following wards: Town Centre ward Purewell and Stanpit ward Mudeford and Friars Cliff ward Highcliffe ward 6. Context – community (suggested maximum 300 words) (Description of local community with demographics) The borough of Christchurch consists of coastal, urban and rural areas offering residents a varied and attractive environment. The town of Christchurch has the role of a local service centre providing a range of shopping, sporting, recreation and other community facilities. The 2011 census data shows the population of the Christchurch coastal area was 16919 of which 12% were aged 0-15 years (England 19%), 50% were 16-64 (England 65%) and 37% were over 65 (England 16%). As such, it has a significantly smaller working age population and a significantly larger proportion of retirement age residents than the national average. There are 149 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) along the Dorset coastal area and Christchurch has no lower super output areas1 of multiple deprivations. For income deprivation, four of the most deprived LSOA and seven of the least deprived LSOA fall within the Poole coastal area. In relation to employment deprivation, two of the most deprived LSOA and ten of the least deprived LSOA fall within the Poole coastal area. In regards to the working population in Christchurch, 2550 people Live and work in the area, 4,133 people who live in Christchurch commute out of the area for work and 1 LSOA: lower super output area- a small geography containing roughly 1,500 residents and 650 households. 1 V3- 29 January 2016 Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan Christchurch Coastal Area Plan 4,429 people who don’t live in Christchurch commute into the area for work. In commuters represent 63% of the workforce and, with more in commuters than out commuters, the town has a net commuting gain of 300. Bournemouth is a significant origin of in commuters with almost a third (31%) of Christchurch in commuters travelling from here. 35% of in commuters travel to Christchurch from other parts of Christchurch borough itself. Bournemouth and the rest of Christchurch are also significant out commuting destinations accounting for more than half of out commuters from Christchurch. Christchurch employees are more likely to be in high level occupations than the average: 45% compared with the England average of 41%. The top categories include professional occupations (18.8%), managers, directors and senior officials (14.2%), associated professional and technical occupations (12.3%) and skilled trades (12.3%) Christchurch residents are less likely than the national average to rate themselves as in very good/good health. 11% of residents indicated that in terms of long term health problems or a disability, their day to day activities are limited a lot – above the England average of eight per cent. Economically active residents (aged 60+) were more likely to consider themselves in very good/good health than those economically inactive. 15% of Christchurch residents provide some level of unpaid care: this is above the 12% average for England. Economically inactive residents are more likely to provide unpaid care than economically active residents. 7. Context – economy (suggested maximum 400 words) (Local economy, e.g. business, tourism, manufacture, etc., ‘Starting point’) In Christchurch, the level of economic activity is below the average for both DCC Dorset and England (eight percentage points under the national average) and economic inactivity is relatively high. Of the economically active population in Christchurch, the percentage self-employed is above average at 19.5%, employed at 72.4% whilst unemployment is below average at 5.1% and students make up 3.1%. Of the employed population, an above average percentage of residents are in part time employment: 34% compared with 29% nationally. Part time workers are more likely to be paid below the living wage than full time workers. More than half of Christchurch’s 6,300 employees work in four sectors: accommodation & food services (19%); retail (15%); health (11%); education (10%). Workers in accommodation & food services and in retail are more likely to be paid below the living wage. Christchurch has an above average percentage of employees in employment working in low pay sectors – those with median earnings below the national average including agriculture, forestry & fishing; distribution; accommodation & food service; real estate; admin & support; health & social care; some manufacturing sectors; culture & recreation; other personal services. The England average at 50% and DCC Dorset at 54%, Christchurch has 63% in low pay sectors. 39% of residents in Christchurch held high qualifications (NVQL3+) in 2011, marginally below the England average but in line with DCC Dorset while 35.9% had low or no qualifications which is also in line with the England average. Over the first half of 2015, claimant unemployment (Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit) in Christchurch was about 1.0%: below the England average but above 2 V3- 29 January 2016 Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan Christchurch Coastal Area Plan the DCC Dorset figure. This was an average of around 85 claimants. More than half of all claimants in Christchurch were aged 25-49 and almost 30% were aged 50+: higher than the England average of 21%. Christchurch2 has a business population of 1,080 VAT/PAYE registered units. Representation of micro sized business units employing fewer than ten employees is in line with the England figure at 84%. With 905 micro businesses and a further 155 with 10-49 employees, there are very few businesses with more than 50 workers and no businesses employing 250 or more. More than half of all Christchurch business units fall into four sectors: Retail; Professional, scientific & technical; Construction; Accommodation & food services. Even though not perhaps commonly perceived as an industrial or commercial area, Christchurch can boast a diverse and successful economic base employing thousands of people. Statistics show 1.2% of the population working in agriculture, 17.8% in manufacturing and 25.5% in distribution and catering. Major employers include British Aerospace, Normalair Garrett and Penny & Giles. Companies are located across the Borough on industrial estates, the largest area being Bournemouth International Airport at Hurn. 8. Related initiatives (What else is going on in the community of economic importance, e.g. BID, LEP, CIC, CCF, CRF) Christchurch Chamber of Commerce Christchurch Harbour Management Group Christchurch Community Partnership plan 2 For business count data, Christchurch is made up of the Middle Super Output Area which is a wider definition including Portfield, North Highcliffe and Walkford. 3 V3- 29 January 2016 Dorset Coastal Community Team Connective Economic Plan Christchurch Coastal Area Plan Plan 9. Ambition (A positive statement of the aims and objectives of the plan and a description of what it will achieve. Description of ‘what success will look like’): The redevelopment and regeneration of the coastal community area, to bring about the revival of the economic and social opportunities associated with the natural and social heritage of the coast. 10. Needs of the community and intentions of the team to meet them. (Identify the socio-economic needs of the community and the opportunities to meet them. Each element should be Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed): Currently, we have highlighted the needs of the Christchurch coastal area and will present how the DCCT will measure and meet these needs following the submission of the plan once further assessment has been done. Theme 1: Sustaining and developing the tourism economy Improving the visitor experience, through improved