Information on premises, business ages and business survival rates

Premises

The analysis of the industrial structure highlighted sectors with higher or lower business representation in the South Downs National Park compared to its wider buffer area. The following chart (Figure 1) compares the commercial activity in terms of premises. The National Park has relatively fewer premises in retail and more in factories, both in terms of the count of premises as well as their floorspace. The average floorspace taken by a unit within the National Park is also smaller than in the buffer area.

Figure 1 Commercial Premises – Count and Floorspace, 2008

Source: Hampshire County Council (September 2011) South Downs Local Economy Report: Neighbourhood Statistics, Commercial and Industrial Floorspace and Rateable Value Statistics (2005 Revaluation), MSOA level, Hampshire County Council

Business Ages

Compared to the buffer area and the South East, the majority (46 per cent) of businesses in the South Downs National Park fall within the oldest business category of more than ten years. The National Park has relatively fewer younger businesses of up to three years old. This may have implications for job creation and in turn limit job opportunities, it may also have implications for commuting and migration of local residents.

Figure 2 Enterprises by age, 2010

Source: Hampshire County Council (September 2011) South Downs Local Economy Report: Neighbourhood Statistics, Enterprises by Age of Business, MSOA level, Hampshire County Council

Business births, deaths and survival rates

Business births in the South Downs buffer are in line with regional levels, although business deaths are greater. Between 2004 and 2009 the number of business births have dropped from 73 to 53, compared to a fall from 68 to 53 in the South East region. The decreasing number of business births and increasing number of business deaths resulted in a net decrease of business stock in the buffer area in 2009. For the same year business survival rates were, however, higher than the regional or national levels.

Figure 3 Business births per 10,000 16+ population

Source: Hampshire County Council (September 2011) South Downs National Park Local Economy: Business Demography 2009, District level, Hampshire County Council

Figure 4 Business deaths per 10,000 16+ population

Source: Hampshire County Council (September 2011) South Downs National Park Local Economy: Business Demography 2009, District level, Hampshire County Council

Figure 5 Business Survival rates

	Births	1 Year	2 Years	3 Years	4 Years	5 Years
Great Britain	274,350	94.2	78.7	65.2	54.6	46.7
England	248,450	94.2	78.7	65.2	54.5	46.6
South East	44,345	94.5	80.2	66.9	56.4	48.7
SD Buffer	11,420	94.6	80.7	68.3	58.4	50.6

Source: Hampshire County Council (September 2011) South Downs National Park Local Economy: Business Demography 2009, District level, Hampshire County Council