The Vale of White Horse in context
The Vale of White Horse is located in the upper Thames Valley and is one of five districts within Oxfordshire. The Council takes its name from the famous 3,000 year old monument carved on the crest of White Horse Hill, Uffington. It is the oldest of all the white horses in England. The Vale is bounded to the north and east by the River Thames and to the south by the Berkshire Downs. The district covers some 224 square miles (580 square kilometres) of country that is attractive and mainly rural in character.
To view a map of the Vale see our page About the Vale, or a more detailed map can be downloaded from the right of the page.
The flood plains of the Thames and its tributaries cover extensive areas of the district. With some 4,500 homes that could be affected by flooding, this is a serious issue in the Vale. Flooding could become more frequent and cover larger areas as a result of climate change.
For more information about the Vale see:
The Vale's Population
The population of the Vale was estimated as 117,000 in 2007. About half the population lives in the three historic market towns of Abingdon, Faringdon, and Wantage, plus North Hinksey (Botley) and the expanded village of Grove. The remainder is distributed in more than 60 villages and hamlets throughout the Vale. In common with much of the country the Vale has an ageing population with a little over 16 per cent of its population over 65 years old.
The population of the Vale is projected to reach 139,000 by 2026. The proportion of the population that is over 65 will rise by 47 per cent whereas the proportion of those 14 and under will rise by only 11.3 per cent. In common with national trends, the Vale will see an increasingly ageing population, with growing numbers of smaller and single person households.
The Vale has a relatively small black and minority ethnic population, compared to the national average. The 2001 Census shows that 6.7 per cent of the district population (7,765 people) describe themselves as members within ethnic groups other than white British. Of these, those most represented in the district include Irish (1,176), people from other white ethnic groups (3,821), Chinese (499) and Indian (415). The percentage of people who describe themselves as other than white British people within the district is lower than the Oxfordshire average (10.1 per cent) and about 2 per cent lower than the South East as a whole (8.7 per cent). The Vale is a multi-faith area with the majority of people saying they are Christians (76 per cent). In terms of disability, just over 13 per cent of our residents have a limiting long-term illness/disability.
There has continued to be a sustained increase in the number of households. This reflects the national trend towards smaller and more rapidly forming households. The Vale has over 48,600 households of which nearly a quarter consist of a single person. Average private household size is expected to fall from 2.4 in 2006 to 2.29 in 2026, meaning that in 2026 there will be just over 59,000 private households, which is a rise of 24 per cent over the 2006 figure. The level of owner occupation is 76.2 per cent (March 2004) which is above the national average of 74.4 per cent.
Compared with the national average the housing stock is relatively modern and in generally good condition. Between 1996 and 2007 nearly 4,000 homes were built in the Vale, of which almost 1,200 were affordable. Nevertheless, with house prices nearly nine times higher than average incomes, many local people continue to find it difficult to buy their own home or rent from a private landlord. The problem is particularly acute in the smaller communities where house prices are very high and few properties are available to rent from housing associations.
The Vale's economy has remained strong throughout the 1990s and early years of the new century, and opportunities for employment have been good. There is an above average proportion of people who are economically active (86.6 per cent) with above average earnings. Unemployment levels remain comparatively low. However, as with all areas in the country there are uncertainties about the economic future of the district as a result of the current credit crisis and economic down turn.
Science Vale UK in south central Oxfordshire is an area of economic growth that comprises:
- The Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. This includes the Diamond Synchrotron and the ISIS neutron source. Over 4,500 people work for around 100 companies at the site.
- Milton Park, which is one of Europe¿s largest multi-use business parks. It has over 160 companies employing around 6,500 people
- The towns of Wantage and Didcot
- The expanded village of Grove
The Science Vale UK Partnership has come together to ensure that the development momentum continues and that the area establishes itself as a world leading site for scientific research and development and high technology businesses.
The Vale also has two key military related sites providing a range of jobs. These are the Defence Academy at Watchfield and Dalton Barracks on the edge of Abingdon. There are numerous rural business sites outside the main settlements and the rural economy is also supported by business activities which are directly related to the countryside, such as farming, forestry and equestrian activities. The Vale, in partnership with South Oxfordshire District Council, has secured joint grant funding in 2008 of £1.8 million to help revitalise and support rural businesses.
Last reviewed: 31 - 05 - 2011
