strength
Turn ready homes into secure tenancies
The first ten New House Farm apartments are ready to let at social rents.
Proposed response: Support a smooth move-in and check the homes work as intended.
What could help →South Derbyshire, in numbers
Issues and SWOT: South Derbyshire
South Derbyshire local authority area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths to build on. Pressures to address. Choices to make.
These assessments connect evidence with proposed responses. They are not ratings of council performance.
Strengths
strength
Make room for homes people can afford
Average private rent is £882 a month (August 2026) in South Derbyshire council area. This is £577 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.4% in Willington and Findern to 20.9% in Church Gresley — a gap of 12.4 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.
What could help →strength
Bring support closer to people in poor health
4.6% of people reported bad or very bad health in South Derbyshire council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.9% in Hilton to 6.9% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 4 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.
What could help →Weaknesses
weakness
Manage the move from ageing civic facilities
The masterplan identifies ageing public buildings and a proposed replacement leisure centre.
Proposed response: Maintain services through a clear transition.
What could help →Opportunities
opportunity
Connect the new leisure centre to the town
The new facility combines sport, community use and offices.
Proposed response: Make walking, public transport and affordable access part of delivery.
What could help →opportunity
Plan homes and care around an older population
18.6% of people in South Derbyshire council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 12.1% in Hilton to 25.2% in Seales — a gap of 13.1 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.
What could help →opportunity
Connect local skills to local opportunities
31.8% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in South Derbyshire council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.5% in Hilton to 23.1% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 13.6 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.
What could help →opportunity
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in South Derbyshire 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.
What could help →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.
What could help →opportunity
Target support where disadvantages overlap
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.2% in Hilton to 22.3% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 14.1 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →Threats
threat
Keep masterplan ambitions tied to deliverable phases
The masterplan covers more than the already appointed leisure contract.
Proposed response: Separate funded projects from options awaiting decisions.
What could help →| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Turn ready homes into secure tenanciesNew House Farm council homes: First ten homes ready to let | South Derbyshire District Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Manage the move from ageing civic facilitiesSwadlincote town-centre masterplan: Masterplan prepared; Swadlincote leisure centre and council offices: Construction partner appointed; enabling works begun | South Derbyshire District Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Connect the new leisure centre to the townSwadlincote leisure centre and council offices: Construction partner appointed; enabling works begun | South Derbyshire District Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Keep masterplan ambitions tied to deliverable phasesSwadlincote town-centre masterplan: Masterplan prepared | South Derbyshire District Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £882 a month (August 2026) in South Derbyshire council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.4% in Willington and Findern to 20.9% in Church Gresley — a gap of 12.4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 15 of 15 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
| Plan homes and care around an older population18.6% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 12.1% in Hilton to 25.2% in Seales — a gap of 13.1 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 15 of 15 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health4.6% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.9% in Hilton to 6.9% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 15 of 15 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities31.8% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.5% in Hilton to 23.1% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 13.6 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 15 of 15 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.2% in Hilton to 22.3% in Newhall and Stanton — a gap of 14.1 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 15 of 15 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |