Community Data Profile for

GRAVESHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

AUGUST 2009

[Draft] Community Data Profile for Gravesham

CONTENTS

Page Number

Introduction 2-3

1. Location Context 4

2. People and Place 5-11

3. Environment 12-20

4. Transport 21-26

5. Community Involvement and 27-31 Cohesion

6. Community Safety 32-43

7. Education and Lifelong Learning 44-51

8. Health and Social Well-being 52-61

9. Economic Well-being 62-74

10. Housing 75-82

11. Culture and Leisure 83-89

Appendices 90-128

Community Data Profile for Gravesham 1 [August 2009] Community Data Profile for Gravesham

Introduction

This report aims to provide a data profile of the borough of Gravesham and its community. The primary objective is to provide a rounded picture of Gravesham and the report should be used as a tool to provide a context and overview of the borough. The report outlines various conclusions that have been reached based on the research and analysis of key data profiling information that has been collected from a wide range of stakeholders including central and local government, a number of partner organisations and a series of independent bodies.

What is a Data Profile and how can it be used? The Audit Commission states that; “an area profile brings together a number of components to help you map the quality of life and services in your local area.” “An area profile helps you to focus on people and place, and identify priorities that cut across service boundaries. Area profiles are useful to;

• help local public service providers to identify where improvement is most needed locally; • make publicly available a summary of data and information on the quality of life and local services; and • aid government and regulators to concentrate strategically on those areas that most need support.”1

Fig. 1 – What makes up an area profile

1 http://www.areaprofiles.audit- commission.gov.uk/(0ey1dr3z420slher0ziletzs)/StaticPage.aspx?info=25&menu=57

Community Data Profile for Gravesham 2 [August 2009] As can be seen from Fig. 1, an area profile is formulated through a number of components; a ‘synthesis of findings’. These include, inspectorate judgments, voluntary sector contributions and as in the case of this report, a data profile.

This report has therefore been based on the Audit Commissions’ methodology of a data profile 2 and all research has been collated and analysed against the ten quality of life themes. Further details of what is covered within the chosen ten themes can be found at Appendix 1 – Defining Quality of Life.

One of the key statistical tools used within this report is the 2008 Place Survey. This survey provides information on people's perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. The survey collects information on 18 national indicators used to measure local government performance. Within Gravesham, over 1200 people took part in the survey and these results have been used to enhance the report findings throughout.

The findings from this report will allow Gravesham Borough Council the opportunity to better understand the strategic priorities that are prevalent within the local community and ultimately to establish an evidence base to tailor our corporate and business plans to deliver outcomes to tackle these community issues.

Data profiling as a method is a continuous process as the council seeks to identify any growing trends within the various sectors of the community and therefore the information outlined in this report should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the latest and most accurate data is captured for analysis.

2 http://www.areaprofiles.audit- commission.gov.uk/(c3320g45aid2hp55qwvqw3nb)/StaticSequencePage.aspx?info=30&men u=59

Community Data Profile for Gravesham 3 [August 2009]

1. Gravesham – Location Context

1.1 Location and area The borough of Gravesham is located on the south bank of the in the north of approximately 32km (20 miles) east of . Covering an area of 2 99 km and stretching from the River Thames in the north to the crest of the in the south, Gravesham’s nearest neighbours are the boroughs of to the west, to the east and and and Malling to the south.

1.2 Physical Characteristics Gravesham borough has a striking urban-rural split, primarily divided by the . The land to the north of the A2 is urban based and is included within the Kent Thameside regeneration project outlined in paragraph 1.3. The rural area to the south of the A2 and to the east of , 78% of the whole borough, is virtually all Green Belt land. Much of this land is of significant landscape and biodiversity value with the nationally important landscape of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty located in the south and east of the Borough and the internationally important biodiversity area of the located in the north east of the Borough.

Gravesham as a place to live consists of Gravesend (including Milton, Denton and Chalk) and , the towns at the heart of the borough and the rural and semi rural villages of Cobham, Higham, Istead Rise, Luddesdown, (including Harvel and Culverstone), Shorne and Vigo.

1.3 Kent Thameside Regeneration Kent Thameside is the commercial and residential development powerhouse of the government backed region. It has been identified as a priority area for long-term sustainable economic, social and environmental regeneration. The project focus lies between Dartford’s boundary with Greater London in the west to the North Kent Marshes to the east of Gravesend. Within Gravesham specifically, this will impact on the land to the north of the A2, recognised as being a major growth area with the ability to accommodate significant levels of housing and employment development.

This ambitious cross-boundary programme is backed by substantial financial support from central and local government agencies. The project aspires to deliver 30,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs (36,000 by 2026 and specifically, up to 10,000 in Gravesham), 12,000 homes of which have already been delivered. The effects of the economic downturn may well impact on the scale/time frame of the project outputs but the intention to deliver new town centres, new cohesive communities and neighbourhoods remains.

Given its importance and scope towards Gravesham’s development, the Kent Thameside project is referred to in parts throughout this report.

Community Data Profile for Gravesham 4 [August 2009]

2. People and Place

2.1 Population

2.1.1. Total Population The total population of the borough at the time of the last Census of Population (2001) was 95,717. However, estimates in 2008 suggest the population has continued to increase and now totals 98,000. 34 This represents an estimated increase of 2.39% since 2001 which, over the same period, is far below the average for Kent County Council (KCC) districts (5.78%) and also below the average for (4.04%) and places Gravesham at 11 th out of 12 in total population sizes across KCC districts.

Alongside immigration which is discussed further at paragraph 2.2.1, the increase