The housing mix in Southend
February 25, 2013 2 Comments
The following table shows the mix of homes owned or rented in the various wards across the Borough of Southend-on-Sea. The figures, from the 2011 census, are percentages.
| Owned | Social housing | Renting | |
| Belfairs | 78.1 | 10.6 | 10.5 |
| Blenheim Park | 70.0 | 17.9 | 11.0 |
| Chalkwell | 62.4 | 4.3 | 32.2 |
| Eastwood Park | 86.5 | 3.5 | 9.4 |
| Kursaal | 36.7 | 24.2 | 38.3 |
| Leigh | 70.4 | 0.9 | 27.9 |
| Milton | 45.5 | 2.7 | 50.3 |
| Prittlewell | 73.4 | 9.6 | 16.3 |
| Shoeburyness | 57.8 | 23.2 | 18.3 |
| Southchurch | 68.5 | 19.5 | 11.1 |
| St Laurence | 75.5 | 13.3 | 10.2 |
| St Lukes | 66.6 | 10.5 | 22.1 |
| Thorpe | 85.4 | 0.7 | 13.0 |
| Victoria | 40.1 | 29.3 | 29.6 |
| West Leigh | 84.5 | 1.6 | 13.2 |
| West Shoebury | 70.4 | 17.3 | 11.2 |
| Westborough | 63.7 | 1.5 | 34.2 |
A mixed picture emerges. Milton has the highest rental sector, and low home ownership numbers. Milton also has a low social housing figure.
The two other Labour wards, Victoria and Kursaal, show the highest social housing number. However, high social housing numbers are no indicator of Labour support as Blenheim Park, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, St Laurence and West Shoebury attest. St Luke’s, within recent years a solid Labour ward, does not show particularly high numbers in social housing, and Westborough’s number is also very low.
If these numbers mean anything in terms of campaigning and targeting then someone do explain. I think it shows that anywhere is up for grabs if you campaign effectively.
I bet if you looked at council tax band you would find evidence supporting targeting.
Maybe, but that is to support the idea that Labour appeals only to the less wealthy – an argument that does not always bear up to scrutiny. I am a socialist not because I want to take the rich down a peg or two, but because I believe in fairness.