Borough Overview
This page gives an overview of the Borough and puts it into context.
Regional Context
Reigate & Banstead is located in the County of Surrey, due south of London and largely within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Predominantly open countryside, the Borough is traversed by the North Downs escarpment - a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and the Greensand ridge.
The Borough covers 12,900 hectares and encompasses the main village of Banstead in the North, the towns of Reigate and Redhill in the centre and Horley in the South. It shares borders with Greater London to the North, Epsom and Ewell to the North-West, Tandridge to the East, Mole Valley to the West and Crawley to the South.
Map of the Borough with contextual details (254.4K)
The People
Mid-2005, the population of the Borough was estimated to be 127,200, with two-thirds residing in the four main settlement areas and the rest in the other villages or outlying areas.
The population has seen the highest rate of growth in Surrey between 1991 and 2001, with growth of seven percent, compared to the UK average of 1.7% and the South East average of 4.2%.
The age structure in the Borough is similar to the national picture, although we have a slightly higher representation of both children under ten and people over eighty.
The Economy
The Borough is recognised as an important part of the national economy. Particular emphasis is given to the importance of the M23/A23 corridor linking London, Gatwick Airport and the South Coast.
The local economy is buoyant, with activity concentrated in the Redhill/Reigate and Horley areas. The attractiveness of the local environment and its accessibility to London, the M25, Heathrow and Gatwick airports have attracted a number of major national and international companies. Over seventy percent of 16 - 74 year olds are economically active.
Unemployment at 0.8% is amongst the lowest in the South East. However, there is a skills shortage and some sectors find it difficult to recruit professional level posts. The road network is under pressure with 27,000 people - nearly half of the workplace population of 58,000 - commuting in from other areas. A further 34,000 Borough residents commute to employment outside the Borough.
There are over twelve hundred retail outlets, 900 offices, 360 Industrial and 325 warehouse units in the Borough with a total floorspace of 884,000 square metres. Ten percent of office units and industrial units and twelve percent of warehouse units are currently under development or available to let.
The Environment
The Borough has a high quality natural environment, however the levels of environmental pollution caused by vehicle emissions coupled with the increasing challenges faced relating to water supply, sewerage, waste management and overall air quality is a cause for concern.
Eighty-five percent of households own one or more cars and over half the school journeys are by car.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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