SINePost newsletter - March 2023

In this issue:

1. Census 2021: Somerset profile
2. Rough sleeping snapshot
3. Fly-tipping statistics
4. Jobs density estimates
5. House price statistics
6. Migrant worker statistics
7. Physical activity among children
8. Census 2021: Sexual orientation and gender identity
9. Census 2021: Housing and vehicle access

1. Census 2021: Somerset profile

A new Somerset profile has been created using data from the 2021 census. The profile provides a succinct overview of the demographics and other characteristics of Somerset, along with national comparisons.

The profile can be accessed here, or by selecting Somerset Profile from the menu.

2. Rough sleeping snapshot

Somerset was estimated to have 48 people sleeping rough according to the latest annual rough sleeping snapshot, conducted in October-November 20221. This snapshot provides an estimate for the number of people sleeping rough on a single night. Mendip had the highest number of rough sleepers with 19, followed by Somerset West and Taunton with 15, Sedgemoor with 9 and South Somerset with 5.

The 2022 figure represents a 60% increase from the 2021 estimate of 30 rough sleepers, although remains much lower than the pre-COVID figure of 71 recorded in 2019, which was the highest number since estimates began in 2010. Somerset West and Taunton is the district area which has seen the biggest increase from 2021 to 2022, with an estimated 9 more rough sleepers (an increase of 150%). Somerset West and Taunton had previously seen the biggest decrease in estimated numbers of rough sleepers from before the COVID-19 pandemic, from 25 in 2019, to 6 in 2021.

Sedgemoor is the only area in Somerset which is showing a decrease in numbers of estimated rough sleepers in the latest figures, from 11 in 2019, to 9 in 2022.

For the full dataset, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2022

3. Fly-tipping statistics

The total number of fly-tipping incidents recorded by local authorities in Somerset decreased in 2021/22, in annual figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra): www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england

There were 4,423 fly-tipping incidents recorded in 2021/22, compared to 5,158 in 2020/21, representing a fall of 14%. Nationally, fly-tipping incidents decreased by 4% over the same period. Prior to 2020/21, numbers of fly-tipping incidents recorded in Somerset had decreased for 4 consecutive years. It is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had an impact on a subsequent increase. Although the latest figure represents an annual decrease, it remains higher than the figures recorded for the 2 years prior to the pandemic.

At a district level, Mendip has the highest rate of recorded fly-tipping incidences in Somerset, with 16.3 per 1,000 population. Sedgemoor had the next highest rate (9.4 per 1,000 population), followed by Somerset West & Taunton (5.5 per 1,000), and South Somerset (2.8 per 1,000).

Over half of incidents in Somerset (63%) involved household waste (comprising black bags or other household waste incidents). Consistent with previous years, the most common place for fly-tipping to occur was on highways (71% of incidents).

For the full dataset, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/

4. Jobs density estimates

There were estimated to be the equivalent of 0.82 jobs for every Somerset resident aged 16-64 according to the latest annual jobs density figures for 2021 from the Office for National Statistics. This figure represents a significant decrease on the previous year’s estimate 0.86, and is below the national estimate of 0.85.

The latest estimate is the lowest figure since 2013. Jobs density estimates peaked in 2019 both nationally and locally, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had an impact on subsequent falling rates.

Within Somerset, Sedgemoor had the lowest job density at 0.72, followed by South Somerset (0.84) and Mendip (0.85). Up to date estimates for Somerset West and Taunton are not currently available.

For the full dataset, see: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/1324.aspx

5.  House price statistics

The average house in Somerset cost £312,585 in December 2022. This is an 11.9% increase from the same period in the previous year and is the highest year-on-year increase since 2010.

Average property prices in Somerset are marginally below the national average of £315,119, although prices in Somerset have increased at a higher rate over the past twelve months: 10.3% annual increase nationally in comparison to 11.9% for Somerset.

In the South West region, the average property price was £330,601, an increase of 8.9% on the previous year. This means that prices in Somerset are on average £18,016 (5.5%) lower than the South West region as a whole.

To explore house price data interactively, see: https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi/

6. Migrant worker statistics

The number of non-UK nationals registering for a National Insurance Number (NINo) in Somerset increased significantly in 2022. There were 3,601 registrations in 2022; the highest figure since 2016 and the second highest since the time-series began in 2002.

Numbers had dropped by 65% in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 1,111 registrations in that year. The 2022 figure represents an increase of 53% from 2021, when there were 2,347 registrations.

The percentage of migrant workers registering for a National Insurance number who were from the European Union was 15% in 2022. This percentage was previously as high as 83% in 2018.

Ukraine was the most common country of origin for non-UK National Insurance registrations in Somerset, with 912 registrations in 2022: a quarter of all registrations. India was the next most common country of origin in 2022, with 611 registrations.

Romania had previously been the country of origin with the highest number of National Insurance registrations in Somerset, peaking at 1,055 in 2019. For comparison, the latest year saw only 201 registrations in Somerset from Romanian nationals.

Data is published through the Department for Work and Pensions' 'Stat-Xplore' tool: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

7. Physical activity among children

An estimated 50.2% of children and young people in Somerset participate in sport or physical activity for an average of 60 minutes a day. This is according to latest results from Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey for 2021/22. An average of 60 minutes physical activity a day for children and young people is the level recommended by the UK Chief Medical Officers.

Somerset’s rate of 50.2% is above the national average of 47.2%. The latest year’s results show a significant increase from the 2020/21 figure of 43.6% but are slightly below the 2019/20 figure of 52.4%. This might suggest an impact of COVID-19 on physical activity levels, although national figures do not reflect this same trend so any conclusions around this should be drawn with care.

This data, along with other physical activity indicators can be explored interactively using the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHIDs’) Fingertips tool: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/physical-activity/

8. Census 2021: Sexual orientation and gender identity

Results from the 2021 census provide an insight into the sexual orientations and gender identities of the Somerset population. The 2021 census is the first time that these questions have been asked on a national census.

In Somerset, 90% of residents identified as being Straight or Heterosexual, with the next largest groups being Gay or Lesbian (1.2%) and Bisexual (1.1%). 7.5% of the Somerset population did not respond to this question. A total of nearly 12,000 Somerset residents selected a sexual orientation other than Straight or Heterosexual, representing around 2.5% of the population aged 16 and over. Nationally, the figure was 3.2%.

The 2021 census also provides the first official data on gender identities. In Somerset, more than 1,600 residents stated that their gender identity differs from their sex as registered at birth: 0.35% of the population aged 16 and over.

Many of those with a gender identity different to their sex at birth did not specify their gender identity. Trans woman and trans man were the next most commonly identified gender identities, with over 300 Somerset residents identifying in each group. 5.7% of Somerset residents did not respond to the question on gender identity.

Nationally, the proportion of residents with a gender identity different from their sex at birth was higher than in Somerset, with this group representing 0.54% of the national population aged 16 and over.

These topics form part of our analysis of 2021 census outputs, which can be found under the Census 2021 menu to the left of this page.

9. Census 2021: Housing and vehicle access

Further insights into the 2021 census results include:

Housing tenures

Around two-thirds of Somerset households were owner-occupied (either owned outright or with a mortgage) at the 2021 census. This is a lower proportion than the corresponding figure for 2011, which was 69.6%.

The proportion of households which are privately rented has increased from 14.7% in 2011, to 17.7% in 2021.

Central heating types

Although the number has fallen since 2011, there remain over 4,000 households in Somerset with no central heating.

Fewer than 5,000 households in Somerset are heated using renewable energy – either exclusively or alongside other heating types. This represents 2% of all Somerset households.

Household occupancy rating

2% of households in Somerset are considered to be overcrowded, based on the Bedroom Standard which calculates the required number of bedrooms based upon the occupants of a household.

On the other hand, a majority of households in Somerset have additional unused bedrooms, with 43.6% of households having two or more additional bedrooms.

Access to a car or van

Nearly 35,000 (14%) Somerset households do no have access to a car or van. This is a lower proportion than in 2011, and is well below the national rate.

More detail on these topics can be found here.

And finally...