Billesley, West Midlands

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Billesley
latitude= 52.422
longitude= -1.859
map_type= West Midlands
population = 25,874 (2001 Population Census)
population_density = 3,649 per km²
metropolitan_borough= Birmingham
metropolitan_county= West Midlands
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Birmingham Selly Oak
post_town= BIRMINGHAM
postcode_district = B29
postcode_area= B
dial_code= 0121
os_grid_reference= SP095805
Ambulance= West Midlands Ambulance Service

Billesley is a ward within the council constituency and parliamentary constituency of Selly Oak, Birmingham, England. It is convert|7|km|mi|0 south of the city centre and includes the areas Billesley, Highters Heath, Maypole (part), Warstock and Yardley Wood.

The expansion of the area began in 1921 with the commencement of construction of the Billesley Estates. Two districts began to form within Billesley; one on the former Ivy House Farm and the other on the former Billesley Farm. By 1926, between 15 to 20 families were moving into Billesley each week and it became one of the Birmingham's first council estates."Brum and Brummies: Vol 2", Carl Chinn, 2001, Brewin Books (ISBN 1-85858-202-4)]

Etymology

The name derives from an Anglo-Saxon named Bill who established himself within the area. -Ley means "woodland clearing" and a woodland clearing is known to have existed in Billesley north of Chinn Brook.

Demography

The 2001 Population Census found that 25,874 people were living in the area with a population density of 4,537 people per km² compared with 3,649 people per km² for Birmingham. Billesley has an area of 6.4 km²/ 566.2 hectares. Females represented 52% of the population, compared with 51.6% for the whole of Birmingham.

Billesley is not an ethnically diverse area with ethnic minorities representing 12.3% (3,312) of the ward's population compared with 29.6% for Birmingham. 8.4% of the population was born outside of the United Kingdom, lower than the Birmingham average of 16.5% and slightly lower than the national average of 9.3%. 88.1% of the population was classed as being in the broad ethnic group of White. This is higher than the Birmingham average of 70.4% yet lower than the national average of 90.9%. The Asian ethnic group was the second largest in the ward at 6.2%, below the city average of 19.5% yet higher than the national average of 4.6%. More specifically, the White British ethnic group was the largest at 83.2% and the White Irish was the second largest at 4.2%. The most dominant religion in the ward is Christianity, with 71.8% of the population of the ward identifying themselves as Christians. This is near to the national average of 71.9% however is greater than the city average of 59.1%. 13.8% stated that they had no religion and 7.8% did not answer the question.

27.6% of the population was noted to be in the 25-44 age group, below the Birmingham average of 28.3% and the national average of 29.3%. People of a pensionable age represented 19.3% of the ward's population, above that of 16.7% for the city. 57.2% of the population was of a working age, below the city average of 59.8%. 63% of the population had a job whilst 8.2% was unemployed, below the city average of 9.5% yet above the national average of 5%. Of the unemployed, 36.5% were in long term unemployment and 11.2% had never worked. 17.9% of those with a job, worked in the manufacturing sector. 17.1% worked in the Wholesale & Retail Trade, Vehicle Repairs sector. The largest employer for the ward is National Express West Midlands who employ approximately 460 people. [ [http://www.birminghameconomy.org.uk/download/profiles/wards/wardbil.pdf Birmingham Economy: Billesley Ward Largest Employer Organisations] ]

The majority of housing is either inter-war or post-war build. 99% of residents live in households whilst 1% live in communal establishments. There was a total of 10,514 households that were occupied resulting in an average of 2.4 people per house, equal to that of the national average. 63.8% of occupied houses were occupied by the owner, above the city average of 60.4%. 26.3% of occupied houses were rented from Birmingham City Council. 354 were stated as being vacant. The majority of the housing in the ward was stated as being semi-detached (42.9%) whilst terraced houses were the second most common (32.4%).

References

* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Media?MEDIA_ID=157293 2001 Population Census Information: Ward profiles]

External links

* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/billesley Birmingham City Council: Billesley Ward]