Population Profile
Total Population Forecasts for Test Valley |
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Male |
55,299 |
55,611 |
55,797 |
55,988 |
56,183 |
56,368 |
Female |
56,899 |
57,158 |
57,294 |
57,456 |
57,635 |
57,812 |
Total |
112,197 |
112,771 |
113,095 |
113,447 |
113,820 |
114,183 |
Population Forecasts for Test Valley by Age Group 2006 |
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
0 to 4 |
3,070 |
2,973 |
6,042 |
5 to 10 |
4,157 |
4,081 |
8,232 |
11 to 15 |
4,089 |
3,813 |
7,902 |
16 to 29 |
9,079 |
8,414 |
17,490 |
30 to 44 |
12,449 |
12,764 |
25,212 |
45 to 59 |
11,617 |
11,819 |
23,442 |
60 to 64 |
3,215 |
3,323 |
6,543 |
65 to 74 |
4,467 |
4,703 |
9,166 |
75+ |
3,150 |
5,014 |
8,169 |
Total |
55,299 |
56,899 |
112,197 |
Source: Hampshire County Environment Department's 2004 based Small Area Population Forecasts
Economic Profile/Growth and Forecasts
Test Valley has a diverse, buoyant and growing economy, ranging from the traditional farming sector to Chilworth Science Park and to major logistics at Andover and Nursling. The number of jobs has grown by a quarter over the last decade (compared to only 7% nationally) and stands at 48,000 in 2003. Unemployment is just 1%.
Distribution/Hotels/Restaurants is the largest sector (28%) followed by Public Administration/Education/Health (19%)Banking/Finance/Administration (18%) and Manufacturing (15%). Tourism eclipsed agriculture as a source of employment several years ago and accounts for in excess of £125m. of the local economy.
Andover has approximately 20,000 jobs and is due to grow in the future with the 46 hectare Andover Airfield business park. However, employment has also risen significantly in Chilworth and Nursling as new companies have come into both the warehousing estate and science park.
Major Employers and Number of Employees
Andover
Defence Logistics Organisation (MOD) |
c2500 |
Office Depot UK Ltd. |
c700 |
Scottish Widows/Lloyds –TSB |
500 – 600 |
Simply Health (formerly H S A) |
500-600 |
Stannah Stairlifts |
500+ |
Tesco, River Way & Chantry Centre stores |
300+10 |
Test Valley Borough Council |
500 |
R. Twining & Company Ltd. |
c500 |
Andover District Community Health Care Trust |
300-400 |
Andover War Memorial Hospital |
|
International Thomson Publishing Services Ltd |
300-400 |
Romsey
Roke Manor Research (Siemens), Romsey |
c500 |
Tesco, Nursling |
|
Cambridge Capacitors, Romsey |
|
Misselbrook & Weston, Nursling |
|
B&Q, Nursling |
|
Waitrose, Romsey |
|
Talley Group, Romsey |
|
Eurometers Ltd., Romsey |
|
Merck, Chilworth |
|
Main Business Parks/Offices
Walworth Industrial Estate, Andover
West East Portway Industrial Estate, Andover
East Portway Industrial Estate, Andover
Mayfield Industrial Park, Weyhill
Thruxton Industrial Estate, Weyhill, Andover
Budds Lane, Romsey
Romsey Industrial Estate, Greatbridge Road, Romsey
Belbins Business Park & Yokesford Hill, Sandy Lane, Romsey
Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey
Test Valley Business park, North Baddesley
Monks Brook Industrial Park, Chandlers Ford
Chilworth Science Park, Chilworth
Nursling Industrial Estate, Nursling.
Recent Inward Investment/Key Infrastructure Projects
Andover
Andover Vision is a joint initiative between the Council, business community and other agencies, including SEEDA, designed to give Andover a stronger sense of self identity and ambition for the next 25 years.
Recent:
• Global investment bank UBS has made a long term investment to upgrade 250,000 square feet of industrial premises on Walworth Industrial Estate to suit modern needs.
• new Next store at Enham Arch, employing 70 people and Sainsbury’s in the town centre
• 50 bedroom Premier Travel Inn and Brewer’s Fayre at West Portway – opened March 2006
Coming Next:
• Wickes DIY store with KFC drive thru restaurant opening in April 2006
• ASDA store development with a 4 screen cinema (400 seats), operated by Reel Leisure, will be open at Anton Mill, Andover in 2007/08. The scheme represents an investment of £20 million and is expected to create 450 jobs.
• “The Lights” – formerly Cricklade theatre a new multi-purpose cultural and commercial venue for Andover comprising 244 seat auditorium/conference centre, 3 business suites, arts and dance studios, bar, café etc due to open late Autumn 2006
Further down the line:
• Hotel/mixed use scheme at Ford Cottage, Andover
• 3,700 new homes as part of the Andover Major Development Area in the local plan review to 2011
Romsey
Recent:
• £3m. upgrade for Romsey Rapids – completed early 2006.
• environmental improvements to Church Place
Coming Next:
• Ottakars Bookshop and Robert Dyas moving taking space in the town centre
Further down the line:
• 1,200 new homes as part of the local plan review to 2011
Town Centres
The centres of both of the Borough’s main towns, Andover and Romsey, have recently experienced major environmental improvement schemes. This £2.5m. public investment reflects the Council’s commitment to strengthening our town centres, making them safer and more attractive for local people and visitors alike.
Tourism
The Test Valley has a great deal to offer the visitor for short breaks with the three principal towns of Andover, Romsey and Stockbridge providing ideal bases for exploring the area. A landscape of rolling hills and peaceful river settings is combined with attractive villages and high quality visitor attractions, such as the National Trust property Mottisfont Abbey, The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey Abbey, The Museum of Army Flying and the award winning Hawk Conservancy.
Source: The Economic Impact of Tourism – Test valley Borough 2002
• Overall, an estimated 276,000 staying trips are spent in the Test Valley every year, of which around 249,000 are made by domestic visitors and 27,000 by overseas visitors.
• Staying trips result in an estimated 930,000 bed nights in the Borough each year. Domestic visitors account for 75% of these nights and overseas visitors account for 25%.
• 42% of all staying trips or overnight trips to the Borough are spent in commercial accommodation, with 34% staying in serviced accommodation.
• Total spend by visitors to Test Valley is estimated to be in the region of £116 million in 2002, accounting for 7% of visitor expenditure in Hampshire.
• Staying visitors account for 34% of spend overall.
• Overall, it is estimated that tourism activity in the Borough supports 1,946 FTE jobs or 2,694 actual jobs.
Source: Test Valley Visitor Survey 2003
• Test Valley appeals to visitors of all ages, but in particular to families with children and visitors in the mid to older age categories (45+ years)
• 78% of all respondents fell into the ‘ABC1’ classifications, compared with 49% of the UK population estimated to fall into this category, demonstrating the relatively affluent profile of visitors to the Test Valley.
• 56% of staying visitors indicated their visit to Test Valley was for leisure or holiday purposes.
• The average length of stay was 5.6 nights. However visitors staying for 7 nights or longer seems to be increasing with only 33% staying 7 nights or longer in 2001 increasing to 42% in 2003.
Major Attractions in Test Valley
Romsey Abbey
Broadlands
Romsey Rapids
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Mottisfont Abbey
The Hawk Conservancy
Finkley Down Farm Park
Museum of Army Flying
Paultons Park
Thruxton Race Circuit
Main Events
July - Annually
Music in the Air – Museum of Army Flying – 10,000 visitors
28 -30 August 2006 CLA Game Fair, Broadlands, Romsey – 130,000 visitors
September - Annually
Romsey Show – Broadlands – 23,000 visitors
Andover Live
A series of high quality town centre events are staged under the branding of Andover Live. A successful Christmas Pageant in December 2005 featured The London Community Gospel Choir and a large Music festival weekend is planned for the summer. To underline the importance of accessibility all the events will be free.
Links:
Test Valley Business
Visit Test Valley
Test Valley Planning
PDFs:
Hotel Development Sites: