For many people in Cornwall mortgages have proved a tough thing to get. England’s southernmost and westernmost county is a haven for holidaymakers and, as such, holiday lets and second homes dominate many areas, much to the chagrin of locals who frequently struggle with affordability.
This has been an ongoing issue for years, but the latest data on the population of Cornwall may offer further clues to the state of play facing those trying to get on the housing ladder in the county.
Publication of the first major findings of the census on the population of England and Wales in 2021 has shown that, in the case of Cornwall, the resident population increased by 7.1 per cent in the decade from 2011. This is far from exceptional, falling between the 6.6 per cent for England as a whole and the 7.8 per cent figure for the south west region.
It was also higher than in the four council areas in Devon with which it shares a border, although other areas of Devon saw higher growth, with East Devon up 13.1 per cent, the second highest in the region.
The Scilly Isles, which is technically part of Cornwall, actually saw a fall in population, but the Office for National Statistics noted this is a less “robust” figure with the smallest population of any UK local authority.
Perhaps the most relevant finding is Cornwall’s age profile, with the over-65s up 25 per cent and 15-64s just 1.7 per cent, suggesting many incomers are buying homes to retire to. By comparison, across England and Wales the over-65 population is up 20.1 per cent.
However, other authorities have seen higher increases in over-65s without seeing the population growth of Cornwall. For instance, High Peak in Derbyshire had a 27 per cent rise despite its population remaining static.
Moreover, across England and Wales as a whole, 32 areas saw an increase in over-65s of more than 30 per cent. This list is actually topped by Milton Keynes, hardly a seaside resort or rural idyll.
Whatever challenges some may face in getting on the property ladder in Cornwall, incoming retirees snapping up almost every home going does not appear to be one of them.
