Profile of Wokingham Borough

Lying in the centre of the Royal County of Berkshire, the Borough is only 30 miles from London.

Made up of 17 parishes and towns, each with their own distinctive character, the community served by Wokingham Borough Council is one of great diversity.  It offers a unique blend of countryside and town, historic features and up-to-date facilities, big business and market town trading. 

The economic prosperity of the Borough, together with a pleasant environment and excellent transport links, make it an attractive place to live and work.  Over recent decades it has seen a large increase in population.

Characteristics

• Despite being near the nation’s capital and home to modern employment areas, the Borough is noted for its charming woodlands, heaths, peaceful rivers and secluded villages.

• The historic market town of Wokingham, the picturesque riverside villages of Sonning and Wargrave and the rural communities of Finchampstead and Remenham contrast with the more modem developments of Lower Earley and Woodley.

• The River Thames forms a natural boundary to the north of the Borough between Remenham and Henley - the Borough actually hosts the world-renowned Henley Regatta course.

• The scenery to the south of the Borough is characterised by miles of mixed woodlands, where remnants of the old Royal Chase of Windsor Forest are interspersed by scented pinewoods and extensive plantations of conifers. Many of the roads run through splendid avenues, of which Wellingtonia Avenue at Finchampstead is perhaps the most impressive.

Local Economy

The Borough lies at the centre of a strong regional economy dominated by the IT, communications and pharmaceutical sectors. Major international companies such as Oracle, Microsoft and BG Group are located within the borough, many situated in the five main business parks. Other large companies including Johnson and Johnson, Jacobs, ING Direct and Foster Wheeler, as well as part of the University of Reading, are also situated within the borough. Businesses are attracted by the excellent communication links to London, Heathrow and the motorway network.

There were an estimated 61,800 employee jobs available in the borough in 2005; 73% of which were full-time. The borough also experiences very high economic activity rates for both men and women, greater than neighbouring boroughs and the South East. In fact, 88% of working age males (aged 16-64) and 80% of working age females (aged 16-59) are either employed or available for work.

Employment

According to the latest ONS annual population survey, 81% of the borough’s population are in employment. Figures published in June 2007 show only 655 people registered as unemployed and claiming unemployment benefits - 0.7% of the population.

Demographics

A key issue for the Council will be the growing number of older people in the local population. The number of residents aged 75 or above is projected to more than double from 8,300 in 2004 to 17,100 by 2029. Those aged 65 to 74 are projected to increase from 11,100 to 15,200. Overall, those aged over 65 will approach 20% of the local population by 2029. The ethnic minority population is approximately 10% of the population.

Wealth and Deprivation

The Borough is ranked as the third least deprived area in the country (2004 index of multiple deprivation).

The average household income is high at £54,000 per annum (CACI Annual Wealth of the Nation survey conducted in 2006).

In 2005 a total of 61,800 employee jobs were recorded within the borough; of which 86% were within the service sector. A significant proportion of these jobs were within finance, IT or other business activities (34.4%) (Source: 2005 ONS annual business inquiry employee analysis).

Population Growth

Current projections indicate that the population of the Borough continues to increase; by 2014 the borough can expect a population of around 159,000 which may increase further to some 167,400 by 2029.

Housing

The Borough faces intense pressure for development as a result of its desirable location (including its proximity to London), its excellent schools and the quality of the local environment. Based on ONS 2001 census, 84% of households are owner-occupiers (69% nationally) with 90% of the housing stock being houses and bungalows (80% nationally). The challenge facing the Borough is to balance the need for housing development with the protection and enhancement of the pleasant semi-rural environment.  The Wokingham Borough is vulnerable because it lacks brown field sites and protected areas compared with other parts of Berkshire.

There are some 2,800 council houses, spread throughout the Borough. They are generally in a good state of repair and there are no concentrated areas of deprivation, measured against government indices.