Ethnic majority areas increased by 70% in 10 years

In 2001, only 282 council wards in England and Wales are considered highest non-white. This increased to 414 in 2011.

14:19 06 May 2013

A recent study conducted by Demos found that ethnic majority areasin England and Wales are increasing at a rapid pace. In 2001, there were 282 council wards in both areas that were considered “highest non-white.” This increased to 414 in 2011. Black and Asian residents now make up about 45 percent of the country’s population.

The findings show that ethnic minorities are concentrating in particular areas as affluent whites moved to the suburbs. The findings also suggest that ethnic minorities are becoming more isolated in Britain rather than being integrated in a multi-cultural environment.

David Goodhart, director of Demos told The Telegraph: “This has uncovered a really quite shocking level of concentration of the ethnic minority population, which means there is less opportunity for interaction with the white mainstream.”

 

Mr Phillips, a Demos associate, said: “This very interesting piece of research reveals a number of vital findings about how people in England and Wales are living together.

 

“What ought to make us a little anxious is the ‘majority retreat’ it has unearthed – white people leaving minority-led areas and not returning – which isn’t good news for the cause of integration.”