Blog prompt 9- Sustainable community

Blog to what extent your ward/SOA resembles a 'sustainable community' and what extent you don't think it does. Give some evidence from your observations (or your memories) of this judgment.

Image from- www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk

Sustainable communities
According to the ODPM 2003 These communities should;
Be economically prosperous
Have decent homes at a price people can afford
Safeguard the countryside
Enjoy a well-design, accessible and pleasant living and working environment and
Be effectively and fairly governed with a strong sense of community.

According to government statistics Kettering 010D (Lower Layer Super Output Area) population is 984, 837 of which are all economically active. This means that 85% of this super output area’s population is employed making the employment percentage higher than the countries overall 67% employment rate.

According to the 2001 statistics 522 households were recorded in this super outlet area, none of which were; shared dwellings, In an Unshared Dwelling: Caravan or Other Mobile or Temporary Structure, or In an Unshared Dwelling: Flat, Maisonette or Apartment: In a Commercial Building. From these statistics and my knowledge the majority of the homes in this output area are detached making house prices substantially higher than other areas in the town of Kettering.

This super outlet area is on the outskirts of Kettering and close to the a14 and other main roads such a the a6 (Barton Road) making accessibility in and out of the town relatively easy. With regards to working environments, there are very few, if any workplaces within this outlet area apart from local shops as it is on the outskirt of Kettering.

People around this area are often very community proud by having their ‘community watch’ program it enables them to be active within this super outlet area. There is also a small woods in which local people are able to walk through and often clean up any rubbish that there may be around.
Overall I think this super outlet area in Kettering is a fairly sustainable community. There is not much in this area apart from detached housing and therefore with no other traffic apart from locals, makes it a very safe environment in which to live.