The Area
The geographical area served by the station, varies greatly from relatively affluent residential to light and heavy industrial use. It also includes developments on the Gateshead Quays such as the Baltic Arts Centre and the Gateshead Sage in addition to tracts of rural land.
The population, based on the 2001 Census, is 67,310 persons who are predominantly from Anglo-Saxon background (94%) with a relatively large ethnic population (6%). There are 31,981 dwellings within the Station area with approximately: -
Single parents occupy 8.7% of dwellings, with 15.8% single pensioner households. 28.2% of households have dependant children.
Levels of unemployment in this area vary from 12.3% for males and 6.3% for females residing within the station area are unemployed. These figures reflect the socio-economic groups residing within the individual neighbourhoods which can be linked to the risk of dwelling fires occurring within the area. This is illustrated in the above map (the red area indicates areas where the risk of having a dwelling fire is well above average, orange is above average, yellow is average, blue is below average and green is well below average).
The demographic layout within the Gateshead Council area is changing with the redevelopment of areas such as Beacon Lough, the Sunderland Road area and the Old Fold. Additionally, former ‘brown field’ sites such as Teams, Gateshead Festival site and Dunston Staithes are presently being developed for residential purposes.
