Penrith has biggest population increase in Cumbria over the last decade with forecast of substantial increase by 2030.

As Penrith welcomes 2023 and looks forward to the year ahead and the future including in April the changes to local government that will see Eden vanish from the local government map along with Cumbria as a local government area.
The Evolve Penrith group have looked back to the past to make a forecast of Penrith 2030 in a report on the future of Penrith by 2030.

The group have used data released this year from the 2021 Census and used it to look ahead to the changing shape of Penrith over the next few years and what the new Westmorland and Furness Council will have to plan for Penrith 2030.

The 2021 Census shows that at Penrith has a population of 16,701 in the town as of the 2021 Census.

The group have said the data shows and increase of 2230 people since the 2001 Census living in Penrith with 1520 of these becoming residents of Penrith between the 2011 and 2021 Census.

Between 2011 and 2021 Penrith had the largest population increase in Cumbria with other large towns across Cumbria experiencing population decreases including Barrow-In-Furness with a decrease of -1134 people between 2011 and 2021 following a population decrease trend since the 2001 Census that has seen Barrow population decrease by -2824.

Between 2001 and 2021 Census Penrith’s population has continued to increase in this period with 2230 additional residents.

Eden District council since May 2019 has approved an additional 830 houses in the district many located in Penrith with an additional 817 houses constructed with 539 in Penrith from applications approved before May 2019.

A number of new developments are already in planning stages in Penrith already with the further increase over the next decade before the 2031 Census.

The Evolve Penrith group have forecast that Penrith is likely by the time of the 2031 Census to have a population that matches that of Whitehaven 22,721 or Workington 21,977 in the 2021 Census.
Both of these Cumbria towns show a drop in population between 2011 and 2021 in the same period Penrith’s population has increased.

Evolve Penrith in its Penrith 2030 report said “With the new Westmorland and Furness Council replacing Eden Council and Cumbria County council as the areas local government from the 1st of April the changing shape of the area’s population over the next decade will need to be a key focus to ensure that Penrith has the infrastructure and jobs to sustain the growing population from new schools to GP’s the increases in Population will need a plan for Penrith to sustainably grow or face the decline other towns in Cumbria are facing due to population levels increasing without the infrastructure to support them.”

As part of the same report the group recently highlighted the pressures the increase in population is having on the towns two GP surgeries and the need for investment and planning as part of a Penrith plan for the future to increase GP and health care capacity for Penrith and the local communities around the town.

The group have forecast in its Penrith 2030 report that between 2019 and 2030 based on current levels of new developments in Penrith and the forecast population growth Penrith will see at least a further 3000 houses build over the next 7 years the town to meet the housing demands the growth in population will create.

What to you think does Penrith need a plan for the future as the towns population continues to grow?