Sustainable Development Locations and Housing Growth
Due to the vast scale of development within the Borough (over 13,500 new houses by 2026) there has been some uncertainty in the exact make-up of the associated future population growth in terms of age mix; internal and external migration mix and population profile. It is expected there will be a rise in the number of families, and therefore a rise in the number of births in the Borough.
Increase in the Number of Older People
Together with the expected overall population growth there is an expected increase in the number of older people aged 65 years plus and 85 years plus, however the proportion of older people in relation to the total population is not expected to change, and may even reduce. The increase in numbers is likely to place a greater demand on the health and social care system in the Borough as there is a higher likelihood of people living with Long Term Conditions, dementia or frailty. This highlights the importance of prevention, to ensure people age well and avoid dependency and self-manage their health effectively.
Good Start in Life
Prevention isn’t reserved for the older generation, within Wokingham Borough there is a focus on prevention in the early years and ensuring that every child gets a good start to life, including a focus on improving school readiness.