Issues and SWOT: Gedling

strength

Gedling’s historic fountain has been repaired

Conservation work on the village fountain is complete.

Proposed response: Keep routine inspections and reporting simple.

Evidence

strength

Make room for homes people can afford

Average private rent is £904 a month (August 2026) in Gedling council area. This is £555 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.2% in Dumbles to 32.2% in Netherfield — a gap of 24 percentage points.

Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.

weakness

Carlton faces a transition in leisure provision

The old Richard Herrod site is being cleared while the replacement centre has no confirmed opening date.

Proposed response: Explain alternative facilities and arrangements for displaced users.

Evidence

weakness

Bring support closer to people in poor health

5.3% of people reported bad or very bad health in Gedling council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 4% in Dumbles to 7.7% in Netherfield — a gap of 3.7 percentage points.

This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.

opportunity

Developer funding can improve Bestwood’s local space

Funding has been approved for The Square’s play and recreation improvements.

Proposed response: Agree the detailed work with local users and the parish council.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

21.6% of people in Gedling council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 14.2% in Colwick to 32.5% in Dumbles — a gap of 18.3 percentage points.

Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.

opportunity

Connect local skills to local opportunities

31.9% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Gedling council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 10.4% in Woodthorpe to 22.3% in Daybrook — a gap of 11.9 percentage points.

Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.

opportunity

Target safety work where problems repeat

Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Gedling council area.

Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.

opportunity

Turn published plans into visible progress

3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.

A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.

opportunity

Target support where disadvantages overlap

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.7% in Woodthorpe to 23.4% in Netherfield — a gap of 14.7 percentage points.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

threat

Demolition comes before all new-centre decisions

Carlton Active still needs planning, design, funding and subsequent council approvals.

Proposed response: Publish each remaining decision and its dependency.

Evidence