New official figures show that the Isle of Wight’s population growth will rely almost entirely on people moving to the Island, with births unable to keep pace with deaths.
The Island’s population is projected to rise to 145,083 people by 2032 – an increase of just 3.1% over a decade. This is around half the growth rate seen across England as a whole.
Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that natural population change will be negative, with an estimated 9,067 births but 20,082 deaths over the 10-year period. This means the population would shrink by over 11,000 people without migration.
Instead, net internal migration – people moving from other parts of England – is projected to add 14,299 people to the population. Net international migration will add a further 1,734, while cross-border moves between UK nations will see a small reduction of 667.
Between 2022 and 2032, more than 61,000 people are forecast to move to the Isle of Wight from elsewhere in England, while around 47,600 people are expected to leave the area.
The new ONS projections closely align with earlier figures from
The Empowering Islanders group has previously suggested the Island’s net population growth would average around 400 people each year, which means 200 new homes need to be built annually.
Concerns remain that, while there are thousands of properties for sale, the availability of social rent homes is not keeping pace with demand.
In response to this, a joint motion by Empowering Islanders and Conservative groups was passed last January for the Isle of Wight Council to prioritise development of its own land for social rent housing – aiming to tackle housing needs without the land acquisition costs and profit requirements of commercial developers.
The majority of persons who relocate to the island
are usually persons retiring.
The only way to solve the problem is for the council
to encourage younger families from the mainland to
move over.
The island needs more ethnic families moving to the
Island to solve the problem.
Rubbish. That was old school. That’s how it was . Look around you , open your eyes . I see more ethnic families than ever before , that’s why there are no social housing for the ones already here . They take health and safety jobs and have priority over the places for rent . This will increase not the amount of people retired. That’s historical now.
We need more industries to set up over here. So there need to be some insensitive to do so.
If you want this Isle to be God’s waiting room, then carry on as you are, but if not, we need to change our approach.
“while there are thousands of properties for sale, the availability of social rent homes is not keeping pace with demand.”
Why don’t the Local Authority purchase some of the properties for sale (already built) to rent out?
Got to wonder why the LA sold off the block of flats on Robin Hood Street rather than doing them up themselves.
Hospital bursting, shortage of GPs and dentists, roads clogged. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE!
That is why the Islands desperately needs
ethnic persons to do the roles required.
There is therefore no local need for social housing, or any other “local” need for housing, so stop building.
Very confusing statistics which tell only half the story, can the infrastructure of the island cope with any increase in population or is that someone else’s problem, why build social housing, that does not attract money just an increased spend on benefits,a huge proportion of social housing residents do not contribute to council tax, I suppose. it all depends on what type of island you want, sociallist utopia and a race to the bottom.
The death rate out stripping the birth rate.
We have an ageing population and not enough young people either having children or capable of having children (Which is normally linked to not having sufficently large houses and enough income to feed and clothe them)
Unfortunatley, as this is an ageing population, there would be insuffient people born here to staff the hospitals, care homes and provide public infrastructure.
We also lack the higher education facilities to train people in these areas.
So yes, ‘we’ either need to: –
a. Ban inward migration of people nearing or exceeding retirement age (if you worked on the mainland, what gives you thre right to retire here when you have no economic worth beyond a consumer – and of course, the Press both right wing and left win make it clear ALL pensioners are poor and unable to heat homes or buy food.
b. Provide the infrastructure to allow young professionals and low paid careworkers to move the Island. This would require a Social housing building spree – which guess what might mean demolishing condemmed hotels and turning them into social housing apartments.
Why shouldn’t persons be allowed to retire to
the island.
I put money on that any local would rather sell a
property to a mainlander than a caulkhead if they paid a
better price.
The world revolves around money.
Don’t forget it is the older population who supports
many businesses eg Busy Bee cafe etc
You won’t get many locals paying £4 for a coffee,
not to mention the meal prices.
While people are busy banning people from moving within the UK (ie from the mainland to the Isle of Wight) it should be noted that this would have the effect of denying Island young people tertiary education since presumably you would expect any ban to work both ways? What is the rationale behind this nonsensicle attitude about the Island. It is a UK county, not a separate country or a Crown Protectorate like the Channel Islands. People who move here from Hants are not immigrants, they have simply moved house. This is not Passport to Pimlico.
Back in the 60s the island was always referred to as an elephants graveyard.