The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
South Holland’s population is set to grow by almost a quarter over the next 20 years, with the biggest explosion in residents aged over 65.
But the latest population forecasts show there could be a drop in the percentage of people aged between 16 and 65 living in South Holland – just over half of the total population, down from 60 per cent in 2012.
As this is the “working” age group – it is feared that there will be less people paying taxes to cover the costs of providing services.
The figures outlined in a report by the Lincolnshire Research Observatory (LRO) also suggest the biggest growth area for the county’s population will be in the 75 and over age group, which is projected to grow by 101 per cent by 2037.
The report says: “This presents a challenge in respect of a declining tax payer population at a time when the need for services for an ageing population will be rising.”
South Holland is the only district in the county where there is a projected growth in all the age groups:
- 75 and over – 90 per cent
- 65-74 – 38 per cent
- 50-64 – 8 per cent
- 25-49 – 8 per cent
- 16-24 – 8 per cent
- 0-15 – 13 per cent
It will mean a projected population growth of 22 per cent between 2012 and 2037 in South Holland.
This is almost double the rate of population growth experienced in the district in the past ten years, when it grew by 12.5 per cent.
In the year from 2012-13, South Holland’s population grew by 0.8 per cent – around 700 people.
A spokesman for South Holland District Council says the figures are used to form plans for future service provision.
He said: “Predictions of population growth from the Office for National Statistics are regularly provided to South Holland, as they are to all Lincolnshire councils, and they form an important part of our projections.
“Together with census data, local information and national government statistics, where relevant we can use such data to help with service planning and the work of the LRO will contribute to this.”
In Lincolnshire, the population growth between now and 2027 is expected to be ten per cent – compared to 11 per cent nationally.
The figure equates to an extra 75,000 people living in the county in the next 13 years.
This is expected to increase to 16 per cent by 2037 – meaning the county’s population will increase by around 112,000 people.
In the ten years from 2003 to 2013 the rate of population growth in Lincolnshire exceeded the national rate on seven occasions.
The figures in the report are based on information from the 2011 census.
